The Lost Ponderosa

Part One-Leaving

"Bam."
That was all that was needed to get the message through his stone head. Not the words, not the stupid hand motions. He was dumb but at least he could admit he was wrong.
However, it was too late now.
The young boy had gathered up his belongings, and mustered up a few coins. There was at least enough shilling for two speed rides out of town. The journey wasn't gonna be pretty to those not searching for something.
Hell, he didn't even know what he was looking for. All he knew was that he had to get out of this town.

"Thanks madam."
He chuckled tipping his hat, as a ticket floated into his hand. For a young boy he certainly managed to appear older. From the growth spurt, fitted sienna hat, bandaged arms and legs, to his tightly wrapped orange bandanna. Nobody could tell that this dapper young man was actually a boy with a talent for lying. His luck with the manipulation of his looks was a god send.
The only clear give away for his identity, was a certain birthmark. But thanks to the grand magic of bandages, it was no where to be seen.

This plan was fool proof, pretend he ain't nobody special and get of dodge. Everything was going his way.
And as he stepped onto the train landing, he took one last good look. One last look with no blurry sights like the ones he would see on the train. The olden homes with bare ash wood and yellow clay bones. Smells of sweet cinnamon, spicy red pepper, and scrumptious chocolate, rolled into his mind like tumbleweeds. The smell summoned up an image of his last supper.
. The scene was set to the sound of loud waterworks emanating from bathroom. Big Brother, his face red, scowling at him across the table, and his fiancée, Miss Louis caring for "them" in the bathroom.

The roaring of train engine, and several people shouting got him to snap back. His newly formed memory of leaving this town was pristine, almost perfect.
Just like "them."
As he practically ran shoving himself into a seat.
A women stood in the isle despairing seeing that there where no seats around. Except for his.
He shifted in his fuzzy rosemary seat. As her eyes lit up seeing the empty spot, he scrambled pulling his bandanna upwards. No, he couldn't be caught now. The ride had just begun.
So her foxy green eyes caught his.
As he no choice but to give a glance of a darting threat. Maybe his glance of pure malice would be enough too ward this shrew away.

But no, to his dismay.
The shrew happily invited herself to sit across from him. His mind began to fuss over this mere instant like the child it was.
The women noticed and snidely commented,
"You thought your disguise was fooling me, little guy?"

"I'm sixteen, mind your business."
He began not noticing that he hadn't put on his mockery of an older teens voice.

The shrew huffed, raising her brunette eyebrows.
"Nice try kid, you sound like your eight."

"I'm not eight!"
He squeaked, slamming his fist onto the table. This action caught the eyes of several other passengers. His face became inflamed with tomato red embarrassment, he grumbled slouching back into the rosemary seats.

The shrew chuckled her voice as rough as dried out sand,
"Young boy, it's not my goal to know who you are or why you are lying.
It's my goal to know where you are going."

"North."
He grumbled feeling trapped in his skin.

"North?"
She mischievously smiled.
"Like Canada?"

"Yes Canada."
He hesitated before nodding.

"Well then, I'll help you."
She chuckled.

"What?"

"I'll help you. Look kiddo, runaway to runaway, it's not my problem to solve your conflict. It's my problem not knowing where your going to end up."