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Rating: D for Don’t know
Disclaimer: Ain’t mine.
Warning: Some people, who shall remain nameless for now, have called
me sappy and a closet
softy. Well, I can’t let that go. I do have a reputation, ya know.
So I thought a little evil would
solve the problem.
feedback welcome! eagleimaggs_7@yahoo.com
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“Don’t you think she’s acting kinda strange?” Mog glanced at Cassie
and saw the blank look. “I
mean stranger than usual.”
“Oh,” The blond nodded her head. “Well yeah, now that I think about
it. She actually said two
nice words to me, and they weren’t sarcastic.” Cass frowned slightly
as she replayed the scene
from earlier.
“What are we gonna do? Don’t get me wrong. I like the nice Maggie, but
its just weird.” Penny
walked up to join the others. They were gathered around the outskirts
of Four Corners watching
Maggs plant flowers around the pretty welcome sign she had built.
“Maybe she’s just been under a lot of stress.” The three girls turned
to welcome a newcomer to
the group, Diana.
“Hey, Diana. Glad you could join us, just wish it was under normal circumstances.”
Mog gave
the object of their attention another look.
“She hasn’t even gave the guys any owies lately. Well, except for that
scene she wrote with Kim,
but even then it was more sappy than anything.” Penny sighed wondering
what was to come of
her friend.
“Whats that noise?” Cassie glanced at the three around her and then
settled on the sound. It was
Maggie singing. A hymn. “Oh boy. This is definitely bad.”
The women watched amazed as the dark haired girl finished her planting,
singing the verses of
Amazing Grace and then get up and start walking their way. The thing
that worried them the
most was, she was wearing a dress.
“Maggs never wears dresses, unless for special occassions.” Cass whispered
the announcement
afraid to startle the approaching figure.
“Hello ladies. Would you care to accompany me to town?” Maggie tightened
the cinch of her
bonnet and smiled sweetly.
“Uh, yeah, sure Maggs. But were waiting for Kim and Judy.” Cassie stared
perplexed at her best
friend.
“Thats no problem. I told Ms. Potter I’d be there by noon, so we still
have a few minutes.”
Maggs raised her flower basket and began handing out yellow roses to
each of her friends’.
“What in the world?!” Kim’s exclaim made each of the women jump.
“Maggie, you okay?” Judy stepped forward to get a better look at her
friend’s eyes, afraid she
had been drinking.
“I’m fine, thanks for asking. Here this is for you.” Maggie handed the
two new arrivals a rose
and then headed to town. “You girls coming?”
Cassie glanced from one to the other. “She’s gone. I never thought I’d
see it happen.” The six
girls sighed heavily and followed the stranger before them.
*********************************
“Evening Ms. Maggie. I see you brought some friends’ to join the picnic.”
Mrs. Potter was
setting up a table on the street near the church and placing food on
top.
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind.” Maggs smiled widely at the older woman
and handed her a
flower.
“Of course not. Your all welcome.” The lady grinned in welcome to the
dumbfounded girls and
then turned back toward her store.
“Uh, Maggs. What are we doing here?” Penny placed a shaky hand on her friend’s shoulder.
“For the town picnic. Josiah invited me this morning when I was helping
him put up the new
curtains in the church.” The dark haired girl patted Pen’s hand turning
back to the flower
arrangement she was making for the table.
Penny swung a helpless gaze to Cassie and mouthed, ‘help’.
“Okay, Maggie. Whats really going on here? I know you better than anybody
and this isn’t like
you. Your up to something aren’t you?” The blond figured confronting
her friend was the best
course of action, that is until she witnessed the crest fallen look
adourning Maggs face.
“Why do you think I’m up to something. Can’t I just be nice to my friends’.”
Maggie looked
from one girl to the other and felt sad. They all thought she wasn’t
capable of being kind. “I
guess that answers my question. I’ll go then.”
The woman bowed her head and slowly walked toward the saloon.
“Okay, now I feel bad.” Mog swung her fushia top from side to side.
“I can’t believe we were
that cruel.”
“Me too. I think we should go after her.” J.B. looked to Kim and then Diana for confirmation.
“I think Judy’s right. We were kinda mean to her. Lets go cheer her
up.” Diana smiled
expectantly to the others and was puzzled to see Cassie still lost
in thought. “You okay, Cass?”
The blond shook herself from her reverie and smiled. “Yeah. Lets go.”
Kim took the lead and was a little surprised to see the seven faces
of Four Corners protectors
guarding the batwing doors. “Hi fellas.” Kim swallowed when she saw
the glares she recieved.
“Whats up with them?” Cassie glanced to Mog to see if she had any ideas.
“I don’t know. You haven’t done anything to them lately, have ya Pen?”
Maria turned quickly to
the brunette.
“No, well not too bad. Not enough to cause this.” Pen smiled softly.
“Uh, guys, whats up?” Judy stepped close to the figures, especially
Vin, who was LEANing on a
post.
“We think you owe Maggie an apology.” Tanner hoarse voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
“What!?” Cass almost choked at the words she just heard. “Don’t tell
me you guys are defending
her.”
“Will ya look at that, kid. And she calls herself Maggs’ best friend.”
Buck shook his head sadly
at the blond.
JD nodded slightly. “Yeah. No wonder poor Maggie’s so down. Look at
the way they treat her.
You guys outta be ashamed of yourselves.”
“Mr. Dunne is correct. Ms. Mog, I am deeply appalled at your actions.
And here I thought you to
be a nice young lady.” Ezra slapped some imaginary dirt off of his
sleeve and gave the girls,
especially Maria, a disappointing gaze.
“As much as I hate to say it, Maggie deserves better treatment than
that. She’s been trying to
change lately. She could use some support instead of more obstacles.”
Chris pushed his hat back
and glared at the six.
Cassie started to protest but thought better of it. They obviously wouldn’t
listen to her. “Where’s
Maggs? We need to talk to her.”
Josiah and Nathan gave each other concerned looks. “She’s inside the
saloon. But I don’t think
she’s in the mood for visitors’.” Sanchez’s baritone voice held a note
of danger.
“Don’t worry, Josiah.” Kim smiled reassuringly and began to follow the other five.
The seven men turned to watch the retreating figures.
“Think she’ll forgive ‘em.” Vin glanced at Chris then back at the saloon.
“In time.” A rare smile spread across Larabee’s face and then seemed
to be contagious, because
before long it was reflected on all seven.
******************************
Maggie leaned dejectedly against the bar and sipped her Amarillo sour.
She heard the footsteps
but refused to acknowledge them.
“Maggs, can we talk to ya for a minute?” Cassie stopped a few feet away
and waited for her
friend to say something.
“So talk.” The dark haired girl never turned around.
“We’re sorry, Maggie. We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Forgive
us?” Penny hoped the plea
penetrated the stiff back facing them.
“Come on, Maggs. You know we love you. Your the best comic relief we’ve
got. Who else if
there on the list who can make a fool of themself so well.” Kim blanched
at the sudden gasps
and stares from the other five. “Well, its the truth.” She whispered.
“Your our friend Maggs. We’re sorry.” Judy stepped forward a little.
“She’s right. If you’ll forgive us, we’ll make it up to ya.” Mog also
stepped up until they were
lined side by side.
“Oh, Maggs. At least say something.” Cassie was getting a little tired of the silent treatment.
Maggie raised to an upright position but still didn’t turn. “I have
one word for all of you.” As the
girl turned a loud creak was heard above their heads. “Duck!”
The six glanced up in time to get the full impact of the dark, sticky
mass of mud. The women
were caked from head to foot.
“MAGGIE! MY HAIR!” Cassie yelped as a wayward glob slapped her in the top of the head.
Each goo covered fem wiped mud out of their eyes and glared at their attacker.
“That was low.” Diana slung goop from her hand and looked in disbelief at her friend.
“Actually, it was high.” Maggie grinned the most maniacle smile. “And
did I happen to mention
I picked the best mud in the country. Straight from James Stewart’s
cow pasture.” Maggs threw
back the last of her drink and stepped around the mess and started
out the door, but stopped at
the entrance.
“And another thing.” The six turned their weighted bodies to the evil
one. “Never, EVER, call
me sappy or soft again.” As they watched helplessly, Maggie’s dress
disappeared and she was
once more covered from head to toe in black. She tipped her hat and
left with the demented
laughter echoing around them.
The seven protectors walked cautiously inside the tavern and couldn’t contain their mirth.
“Anybody want ‘mudpie’ for dessert?” Buck sauntered to Cassie’s side
and wiped a clump of
muck from the blond’s nose. “I hear this stuff is great for the pores.”
They couldn’t hold back the laughter any longer, but quickly regretted
it when they felt the wet
earth collide with their body.
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The End almost,
Epilogue
