The river has been open to trade, and the River boats are rolling in. Bring trouble in spades. Gamblers, Mistresses, bad guys galore and so much more, BG has in store.
A collaborative western story written in poetry, that continues as the character...
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Jhonny
Denver stood on the top deck with the Kid, with one hand on his shoulder the other resting on the rail, their father and son like relationship now evident. Although the Liberty Bell was pulling into the dock at BG, his mind was retracing the journey he'd made to New Orleans and back.
He decided he'd make the journey with the Kid in tow, partly because he was a valuable resource, but mostly, he feared for his safety, not wanting to return to find he'd become Alligator feed.
In the time they'd been gone the lad had grown a good six inches or more, edging near to Denver's shoulder. All the good food and hard work had also helped develop some muscle on his previously sparse frame, it was clear he was going to become a handsome and impressive young man, soon. And the Kid was obviously intelligent as he sucked up all the learning that Denver could muster, during the journey.
He recalled how they'd purchased some horses to take a shortcut across the desert to save a whole week on the journey, he drove them hard and the Kid had no choice but to learn fast. They moved swiftly and within two days they were well on their way to the last water hole.
As always Denver led from the front, but they'd slowed to barely a canter crossing a rocky stretch, they couldn't afford to lose a horse. The path was treacherous and without warning a Rattle Snake shot from the rocks, shaking its tail and hissing with a vengeance, his horse shied and stumbled throwing him to the ground, and the crack of rock on his head was the last thing he remembered.
The Kid was shocked by the sound of bone against the stone and leaping from his horse was relieved to find Denver breathing. He tried hard to bring him around, but nothing he did seemed to work, and there was nothing he could do other than getting help, so using every ounce of his strength slumped Denver over the saddle of his horse.
He carried on in the direction they'd been heading and just as the sun was setting, they reached the waterhole. He'd hoped someone might be there, but they were alone. Gathering what limited kindle was available he built a campfire as the nights were cold and he needed to keep Denver warm. The sun set quickly and beset with exhaustion sleep soon followed.
He awoke with a start to the call of the woman he'd seen hovering over Denver in the cabin, he should have been scared but was relieved to see her.
With a gentle but confident voice, she said.
"OK, Jhonny let's get to work, I don't have any substance here, so you need to do everything I say, no questions asked, you go that?"
"Yes," said the Kid who was surprised she knew his name, she even spoke it like he remembered 'Yonny', no one had spoken it aloud in years.
He went wherever she said gathering insects, plants, and roots until she was happy. Following instruction, he picked certain bits of the plants and insects and ground them up with the roots, using some stones, then put the mix in a billy-can with water, and boiled it on the fire.
But things are never as easy as they seem, when he thought it was done, she told him to capture a Rattle Snake and squeeze its venom into the simmering mix and don't be fearful it will now be slowed by the cold. But you still need to take care, grab it behind its head and hold it over the can and squeeze as hard as possible without killing it.
With that done he threw the snake back into the brush and poured the mixture into a canteen then pricked their fingers adding a few drops of their blood, without question.
He was told it tasted awful but would have to taste it himself before administering the mixture, so not to burn Denver, and just a few tiny sips made his heart race. She told him if you're worried, I'm a witch, then don't, this is a medication, not a magic potion, the chemicals it contains will make his heart race and force him to wake.
Opening his mouth and holding his nose closed he pours the mixture into Denver's mouth, who involuntarily swallows the mixture like it was Whiskey. A few long moments pass with no reaction, then without warning, he sits bolt upright spitting out what remains of the disgusting mixture.
His heart is beating like a drum and has a head that aches like he'd drank a barrel of Whiskey. When his eyes cleared, he was amazed to see both the Kid and his Hatian beauty stood side by side in the firelight.
His throat was too sore to speak, but she knew from his eyes that he was asking how and why. She'd didn't explain other than to say, I'll be going now and leave your blood brother Jhonny to explain.
