The Fire Within a Ninjago Cowboy

Chapter 33 - Second Sunday

Chapter 33 - Second Sunday

During the group's three-day trek back to Ninjago Town, Kai and Sam rode Morro's horse. Kai was the main rider, but upon Sam's request, he gave her some lessons in controlling the reins as they traveled the trail.

Though Sam didn't say this out loud to Kai, she was looking forward to becoming the wife of a cowboy, and so she wanted to know something about riding a horse.

And though Kai didn't say this out loud to Sam, he was happy she wanted to know something about riding a horse, for to him it meant she was still interested in becoming the wife of a cowboy.

It was Sunday at about four o'clock in the afternoon when the weary travelers finally made it back to Garmadon Ranch. They were going to inform Mr. Wu of their return and apprise him of what had happened during the past few days. Then, in the case of the cowboys, the journey would ultimately end at the bunkhouse about a mile away, where the ranch hands could freshen up, shave, and finally sleep in their own beds for the first time in a week.

Cole was cranky as well as tired. Zane had reminded the group that the church bake sale was scheduled to have taken place earlier that day, so Cole had missed out on buying some baked goods.

As the group rode on a stone driveway past an expanse of lawn, Kai pointed up ahead at the stately two-story red brick mansion surrounded by well-groomed landscaping.

"This is the main house where Mr. Wu lives, and his housekeeper, too. Her name is Miss Gayle. She's been at Garmadon Ranch for a dozen years or so," he explained to Sam. "She's a bit of a gossip."

The group rode around to the back of the house to tie up the horses while they visited. Miss Gayle was busy collecting some dishtowels from the clothesline when she saw them.

"Yerra! Sure as the hair on me head be gray, it's me lads!" they heard her exclaim. They saw her run inside the back door of the house as she hollered to Mr. Wu to notify him of the arrival of the group.

She ran back outside with a wide smile on her face to greet them as they were dismounting.

"Failte, lads!" she said in welcoming them, her vocabulary reflecting the language of the faraway land of her birth. "Ye be lookin' a bit scruffy, but still a fine sight!"

"Howdy, Miss Gayle," the cowboys and the sheriff said as they dismounted their horses and endured bone-crushing embraces from the short, plump housekeeper.

"And of course I wouldn't be forgettin' ye, Doc!" she told Doc Julien as he received a hug, too.

Miss Gayle's attention then turned to Sam as Kai was carefully taking her off the horse.

"Kai, she be your mot?" she asked.

Kai grinned. Sam was indeed his girlfriend. "Yes, Miss Gayle, this here is Samantha Borg. Sam, this is Miss Gayle."

"Failte, lassie! And what a fair lass ye be, me dear," Miss Gayle said as she smiled at Sam.

"Thank you. I'm happy to meet you, Miss Gayle. Please call me Sam," Sam replied as she smiled back.

Miss Gayle looked at the couple. "And who, might I be askin', was the winner of the tickle fight that Miss Bansha told me about?"

As everyone else laughed, the faces of Kai and Sam reddened as they realized that Bansha had been awake when they thought she was asleep last Monday night in the Noscut hotel room.

Mr. Wu came out of the house and greeted the kidnap victims and their rescuers. He was ecstatic to learn that his ranch hand and the saloon girl were safe. Kai formally introduced Sam to his boss.

After they had exchanged quick pleasantries, Mr. Wu happened to glance in the direction of the horses. The coal-black gelding caught his eye.

He addressed Lloyd. "Nephew, that's Morro's horse over there."

"Morro's dead, Uncle," Lloyd explained. "He was trying to kill Kai, so I shot him. But right before that, he confessed to..." Lloyd cleared his throat, trying to speak further.

"I know what you mean," Mr. Wu put his hand on his nephew's shoulder in recognition of the significance of the villain's death to the Garmadon family. After a pause, the ranch owner asked, "When are you going to tell your mother?"

Misako, Lloyd's mother, operated a tea emporium in Ninjago Town and lived on the second floor over the shop. Right after her husband's murder ten years ago, she had taken her young son and moved into town and away from the ranch to escape the pain of missing the man she had loved so much. She had sold the ranch to Mr. Wu, her husband's brother.

"Tonight I'll tell her," the sheriff answered, "after I stop by the jail to find out from Dareth what's been going on in Ninjago Town since last week."

Mr. Wu gave Lloyd's shoulder a pat. "Perhaps Ninjago Town can now turn the page to a sunnier chapter in its history," he said.

Mr. Wu then turned to the housekeeper. "Miss Gayle, would you be so kind as to bring out some refreshments for our weary travelers? We can sit at the picnic table and enjoy them and this nice weather we're having today."

"Comin' right up, after I be givin' a quick check on Miss Bansha," Miss Gayle responded.

"Thank you, Miss Gayle," Mr. Wu said as he nodded at her. Then he turned to Doc Julien. "Perhaps, good doctor, after you've had some refreshment, you could take a look at Bansha?" he inquired. "She's in the first-floor bedroom. Miss Gayle has been taking excellent care of her, even staying here yesterday and today when she didn't have to, but Bansha's condition has not improved."

"I will certainly do so," Doc Julien replied.

"Oh." Miss Gayle had taken a few steps toward the house but suddenly turned around. "Will I be servin' those cakes ye bought at the church bake sale today?" she asked Mr. Wu.

"That would be perfect."

When he learned he'd be enjoying a slice of his favorite dessert in the near future, Cole's crankiness disappeared.