Unshaken

Goodbye, Dear Friend

Liam woke and remembered about the charms in the woods that supposedly held the curse in Butcher Creek. He quickly drank a cup of coffee and rode out of camp. His horse galloped to the dam were the charms were. The rising sun shined on the fog rising from the Kamasa River.

He listened in the morning wind. He heard the ringing of the charms. He looked above his head. It was the same charm that the man had held up. Liam shot it down. He spent a while listening and shooting until the charms were no more. "That should do it." He said climbing on his horse and riding to Butcher Creek.

Liam rode into the community. He saw Obediah and the man sitting together on the porch. Liam asked one of the civilians what the man's name was. "Shaman, but we are not to refer to him as such, it's quite disrespectful to refer to him by his first name." A woman told him before scurrying off. Liam sighed and walked up to the two.

"Remember me? I helped with those dogs. I been seeing about this curse of yours." Liam told the two. Shaman looked irritated by Liam's presence. "Welcome brother." Obediah greeted. "It's a dark omen." Shaman said. "Those charms, out in the woods, they all been broken." Liam said. Obediah smiled from ear to ear and started to joyously laugh. Shaman raised his eyebrows, alerted. "All of them?" He asked defensively. "So, I guess that's it for your suffering." Liam told them. "Ah! It's a miracle, we're saved. The darkness lifted." Obediah said standing up, almost jumping in excitement. "Not saved, cursed. He... broke the charms... and the spirits are set loose." Shaman argued. Liam threw his hands on his hips and looked at him, not believing a word he was saying. "We-we-we're doomed then?" Obediah asked. Liam interrupted. "Hold on. You said the charms was protecting the curse." Liam corrected. Shaman shifted nervously in his seat. "I said... it was a dark omen. I said he had the demon's tongue." Shaman told Obediah.

Obediah looked around, confused. "I- I need some light here. I don't know what to think." He said sitting back down. "Hey, look at me." Liam said pointing towards his own eyes. "I think something's going on in this place, and it ain't no curse. And whatever else it ain't, this fella don't want you to know." Liam told Obediah. "Liar!" Shaman said shooting up out of his chair. "I told you he would lie and dissemble." Shaman argued. "Somethings up, and this one wouldn't be so quick with ideas if he didn't have some clue of it." Liam said. "I have the gift! My ancestors..." Shaman yelled, getting in Liam's face and flailing his arms. "Well I gotta gift right here!" Liam yelled holding his fist towards Shaman. The man cowered and backed up. "I'm... going... to commune... with the spirits!" Shaman said trying to scurry off as Liam followed him with his fist in the air. Shaman fell to the ground. Liam followed him, his fist still raised, threatening to punch Shaman. "Dark, dark omens! Dark omens, dark spirits!" Shaman screamed in fear as he ran off.

"What is he hiding?" Liam asked Obediah as they watched Shaman run off. "He, he always spoke truthful to us. There, there is a dig on the other side of the hill there, there was a dig anyway, it's closed now. He always said something about not going over there." Obediah informed him. "Well, maybe I'll take a look at that dig. See if I can find something." Liam said walking off.

He decided to ride back to camp to eat first. As he finished his bowl of stew, Sadie approached him. "There you are. I been looking all over for you." She said. "For what?" Liam asked. "To take down Colm. Come on, we're headed to Saint Denis to meet Dutch and Arthur." She said. "Okay." He complied, climbing on his horse, knowing not to argue with Sadie.

"How have you been?" He asked. "Great, knowing we're gonna see that bastard swing." Sadie said. "You really think this is gonna make things right, Sadie?" Liam asked. "Maybe, maybe not. I don't care though, Colm did this to himself." She told him. "So it seems." Liam agreed as they crossed the state line.

They rode through the muggy city and walked into Doyle's Tavern. Dutch was leaning on the bar. "Mrs. Adler, Mr. Parker." Dutch greeted. "So what's the plan, Dutch?" Sadie asked impatiently, as she and Liam leaned on the bar. Liam ordered two beers for them. "Calm down, Miss. You know I always have a plan. Arthur and I will disguise ourselves as Lawmen. You and Liam will be posh city folk." Dutch told her. Liam realized he'd dressed up a lot for jobs. "Whatever, I just can't wait to see him swing." She said. "You need to follow my lead, and you will certainly see Colm O'Driscoll hanging from a noose in the near future, Mrs. Adler." Dutch said. "Why can't we just rush them?" Sadie asked impatiently. "Looking like a lady won't help us if you're not going to act like one." Dutch said, annoyed. "Don't you worry about me." She grunted.