FIC: A Wife's Regrets
Sep. 15th, 2008 02:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maevebranTitle: A Wife's Regrets
Author: Maeve Bran
Fandom: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Rating: PG 13
Warnings: Canon deaths mentioned
Summary: After the events in Contention, Mr. Butterfield returns William to the Evans' ranch.
Word Count:1326
Author's Notes: This is an extremely melancholy fic. Please have hankies ready.
Alice Evans was hanging the wash out on the line. After she hung each piece on the line she scanned the horizon for signs of her absent husband and missing son. Mark was inside studying the day's lesson so she could let the worry show for the first time in days. Finally after the last bit of wash was on the line the sign she had been waiting for came. Two riders were approaching. One appeared to be a full grown man. The other looked like her teenage son. She couldn't be certain so she reached for the shotgun but before she could line up the sights she spotted a third horse. It had no rider but looked to carry a body slung over the saddle.
Alice set the gun down and crumpled to the ground with a strangled cry. Mark came running out of the house. She reached for him and drew him to her side.
“What is it, ma?” Mark asked.
Alice just continued crying until the riders approached.
“Mrs. Evans, ma'am,” Butterfield greeted nervously. “I'm afraid I have bad news. Your husband got Wade to the train but his gang caught up to them and shot Mr. Evans.”
Alice let go of Mark and gradually climbed to her feet. She looked to William, who was just getting off his horse. William carefully tied the horse to the nearby porch railing before he turned to talk to his mother.
“He did it. Pa really got Wade to the train. It was a sight to behold. I didn't think he could do it, but he did, Ma,” William gushed sadly before running to hug his Mother.
“I don't want you running off to avenge your father, young man,” Alice gave voice to her greatest fear at the moment. She knew she couldn't face the loss of a son as well as a husband.
“He won't have to. Wade jumped down from the train and one of his gang tossed him his gun. Next thing, Wade shot every last one of his gang and then got on the train again. I never saw the like, ma'am,” Butterfield said, still stunned that a gun man would do such a thing. “It was almost as if Wade had taken a liking to your husband and wanted him to succeed in his task.”
Butterfield had gotten down from his horse and tied it next to William's and was attending to Dan's horse. “Where would you like him, Mrs. Evans?” the railroad man asked as he attended to Dan's body.
“Lay him out on the bed in our room,” Alice said not knowing what else to answer.
“I'll help,” William suggested. He and Butterfield managed to get Dan's lifeless body into the house and laid out on the bed. When the task was done, Butterfield came back out to talk to Alice.
“Before he escorted Wade to the train, Mr. Evans made me promise certain things,” the railroad agent said.
“What things?” Alice asked.
“For one, I was to give you one thousand dollars cash money,” Butterfield said as he fished in his pocket for something. “I'm afraid that until I get to the bank in Bisbee, all I have is two hundred. It will have to do as a good faith payment.” Butterfield handed her the cash.
Alice took it, not knowing what else to do. “That's a lot of money. Why?”
“Wade's gang was offering a reward for killing Wade's captors. The town Marshall and everyone else chickened out. I begged Dan to forget about getting Wade to the train but he wouldn't. I even offered him the two hundred cash to walk away. He refused. He asked me to give you the money and I couldn't refuse him. He was determined,” Butterfield explained.
“You said he asked for some other promises?” Alice asked, refusing to be reminded of her late husband's stubbornness.
“He made me promise that Mr. Hollander would never be able to get his hands on your land. First thing in the morning, I will see to it. Mr. Hollander and his men will never set foot on this land again. I also promised that the water will flow to your land but most importantly I promised to see young William home safely,” Butterfield said.
“I do appreciate that. I don't know how I'd make it with out William,” Alice said.
Butterfield untied his horse and prepared to go. “I'll be back in the morning with the rest of the money and the arrangements for Mr. Evans' burial.”
“Thank you,” was all that Alice could manage as the railroad man left. She watched him fade into the distance before turning to go back into the hose.
She found her way to the room she had shared with Dan. She grabbed up the towel from the wash stand and the basin with water in it. She gently bathed the dirt, sweat, and blood from Dan's face. She was just about to remove his jacket and shirt when William slipped into the room.
“Ma,” he said hesitantly.
“Yes, son?” Alice replied.
“He was very brave wasn't he?” William suggested.
“Yes, very brave,” Alice said as she saw the look of respect on her son's face. It was a look Dan would have been proud of. Maybe if William had looked like that before, Dan wouldn't have gone on such a fool hardy mission. But as soon as the thought came she dismissed it. It wasn't they were her son had failed to look at Dan that had driven him on this mission. It was they way she had failed to see him.
“Ma, pa asked that I give this back to you,” William interrupted her musings. He handed the broach over. Alice took it and started weeping again. This time she wrapped William in her arms and he started to cry too. After a few minutes, William wriggled free.
“I'll go look after Mark,” William suggested. Alice answered with a nod and William slipped out of the room.
Alice resumed her task. Mr. Butterfield would be back in the morning and Dan had better be ready for his burial. She eased the coat and shirt of her lifeless husband and recalled what it was like to be held to that chest in happier times. When they were first married, nothing made her happier than to lay her head on his bare chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart. It always made her feel protected and loved when he'd wrap an arm around her and hold her tight to him. Then came the last three years of struggle with the ranch and Mark's illness and William's rebellion, and some how it had been years since she had snuggled up close to him. For the longest time they had lain side by side without touching more than absolutely necessary. She wished that she could go back and give him the look she used to, the look that she was only now realizing that he had needed so desperately to feel like he was a man and valuable.
Alice lowered her head o his chest and wept. She let the water of her tears start to wash him. When her tears finally dried, she rewetted the cloth and began her work again. An hour latter, Dan was dressed in his Sunday best and ready for the funeral to come. He looked like the handsome man Alice had married and Alice wished she never had to see him like this. He had done his duty to see that she and the boys were taken care of but it had come at too high of a price. Alice stood up and went to find her sons. She pulled the door shut on Dan's body and vowed to leave her regrets there with him. It was time she found away for her and her sons to survive with out him.
Author: Maeve Bran
Fandom: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Rating: PG 13
Warnings: Canon deaths mentioned
Summary: After the events in Contention, Mr. Butterfield returns William to the Evans' ranch.
Word Count:1326
Author's Notes: This is an extremely melancholy fic. Please have hankies ready.
Alice Evans was hanging the wash out on the line. After she hung each piece on the line she scanned the horizon for signs of her absent husband and missing son. Mark was inside studying the day's lesson so she could let the worry show for the first time in days. Finally after the last bit of wash was on the line the sign she had been waiting for came. Two riders were approaching. One appeared to be a full grown man. The other looked like her teenage son. She couldn't be certain so she reached for the shotgun but before she could line up the sights she spotted a third horse. It had no rider but looked to carry a body slung over the saddle.
Alice set the gun down and crumpled to the ground with a strangled cry. Mark came running out of the house. She reached for him and drew him to her side.
“What is it, ma?” Mark asked.
Alice just continued crying until the riders approached.
“Mrs. Evans, ma'am,” Butterfield greeted nervously. “I'm afraid I have bad news. Your husband got Wade to the train but his gang caught up to them and shot Mr. Evans.”
Alice let go of Mark and gradually climbed to her feet. She looked to William, who was just getting off his horse. William carefully tied the horse to the nearby porch railing before he turned to talk to his mother.
“He did it. Pa really got Wade to the train. It was a sight to behold. I didn't think he could do it, but he did, Ma,” William gushed sadly before running to hug his Mother.
“I don't want you running off to avenge your father, young man,” Alice gave voice to her greatest fear at the moment. She knew she couldn't face the loss of a son as well as a husband.
“He won't have to. Wade jumped down from the train and one of his gang tossed him his gun. Next thing, Wade shot every last one of his gang and then got on the train again. I never saw the like, ma'am,” Butterfield said, still stunned that a gun man would do such a thing. “It was almost as if Wade had taken a liking to your husband and wanted him to succeed in his task.”
Butterfield had gotten down from his horse and tied it next to William's and was attending to Dan's horse. “Where would you like him, Mrs. Evans?” the railroad man asked as he attended to Dan's body.
“Lay him out on the bed in our room,” Alice said not knowing what else to answer.
“I'll help,” William suggested. He and Butterfield managed to get Dan's lifeless body into the house and laid out on the bed. When the task was done, Butterfield came back out to talk to Alice.
“Before he escorted Wade to the train, Mr. Evans made me promise certain things,” the railroad agent said.
“What things?” Alice asked.
“For one, I was to give you one thousand dollars cash money,” Butterfield said as he fished in his pocket for something. “I'm afraid that until I get to the bank in Bisbee, all I have is two hundred. It will have to do as a good faith payment.” Butterfield handed her the cash.
Alice took it, not knowing what else to do. “That's a lot of money. Why?”
“Wade's gang was offering a reward for killing Wade's captors. The town Marshall and everyone else chickened out. I begged Dan to forget about getting Wade to the train but he wouldn't. I even offered him the two hundred cash to walk away. He refused. He asked me to give you the money and I couldn't refuse him. He was determined,” Butterfield explained.
“You said he asked for some other promises?” Alice asked, refusing to be reminded of her late husband's stubbornness.
“He made me promise that Mr. Hollander would never be able to get his hands on your land. First thing in the morning, I will see to it. Mr. Hollander and his men will never set foot on this land again. I also promised that the water will flow to your land but most importantly I promised to see young William home safely,” Butterfield said.
“I do appreciate that. I don't know how I'd make it with out William,” Alice said.
Butterfield untied his horse and prepared to go. “I'll be back in the morning with the rest of the money and the arrangements for Mr. Evans' burial.”
“Thank you,” was all that Alice could manage as the railroad man left. She watched him fade into the distance before turning to go back into the hose.
She found her way to the room she had shared with Dan. She grabbed up the towel from the wash stand and the basin with water in it. She gently bathed the dirt, sweat, and blood from Dan's face. She was just about to remove his jacket and shirt when William slipped into the room.
“Ma,” he said hesitantly.
“Yes, son?” Alice replied.
“He was very brave wasn't he?” William suggested.
“Yes, very brave,” Alice said as she saw the look of respect on her son's face. It was a look Dan would have been proud of. Maybe if William had looked like that before, Dan wouldn't have gone on such a fool hardy mission. But as soon as the thought came she dismissed it. It wasn't they were her son had failed to look at Dan that had driven him on this mission. It was they way she had failed to see him.
“Ma, pa asked that I give this back to you,” William interrupted her musings. He handed the broach over. Alice took it and started weeping again. This time she wrapped William in her arms and he started to cry too. After a few minutes, William wriggled free.
“I'll go look after Mark,” William suggested. Alice answered with a nod and William slipped out of the room.
Alice resumed her task. Mr. Butterfield would be back in the morning and Dan had better be ready for his burial. She eased the coat and shirt of her lifeless husband and recalled what it was like to be held to that chest in happier times. When they were first married, nothing made her happier than to lay her head on his bare chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart. It always made her feel protected and loved when he'd wrap an arm around her and hold her tight to him. Then came the last three years of struggle with the ranch and Mark's illness and William's rebellion, and some how it had been years since she had snuggled up close to him. For the longest time they had lain side by side without touching more than absolutely necessary. She wished that she could go back and give him the look she used to, the look that she was only now realizing that he had needed so desperately to feel like he was a man and valuable.
Alice lowered her head o his chest and wept. She let the water of her tears start to wash him. When her tears finally dried, she rewetted the cloth and began her work again. An hour latter, Dan was dressed in his Sunday best and ready for the funeral to come. He looked like the handsome man Alice had married and Alice wished she never had to see him like this. He had done his duty to see that she and the boys were taken care of but it had come at too high of a price. Alice stood up and went to find her sons. She pulled the door shut on Dan's body and vowed to leave her regrets there with him. It was time she found away for her and her sons to survive with out him.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 04:05 pm (UTC)Otherwise... *sniff* Sad, and touching, even without having seen the movie.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-02 04:21 am (UTC)You may have received a few notices for other fics, too. The first one for Pirate Swords is a false alarm; ignore it, it was meant to be History Lessons, which I turned into Chapter 2 of Angel File 1789.
Also, I uploaded the html-ready versions of the two SG-1 fics you had up, and swapped the text out. It didn't delete the story or your reviews or anything, just made the text prettier.
No more tonight, though. I'll have to upload your stuff in small chunks every few days, or else burn out both me and your readers in a hurry. =)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-02 06:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 07:50 pm (UTC)... BTW, did you get a chance to watch last week's Eureka?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 08:05 pm (UTC)Nate decided since we didn't have to go anywhere this weekend he'd work in the studio in the morning both Friday and Saturday and then spend the afternoons with me since we haven't really spent much time together lately with out us both being busy doing other stuff. That's why I didn't come down on Saturday. I had forgotten he had made plans for ys to go to the Street of Dreams and then hang out.
What did you do this weekend?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 08:17 pm (UTC)Oh! And even if you tried to call Saturday, I doubt I'd have got the call, because my SIM card totally went AWOL for the day. It was OK on Friday afternoon, but by the time it started beeping low-power very late on Saturday it said "Insert SIM Card", and wouldn't do anything else no matter what buttons I hit. I had to take the **cker to pieces, threaten it, and then put it back together before it could remember how to access the network. Heh.
Planning a stop over any time this week, or shall we double up on Atlantis next week?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 08:25 pm (UTC)I think I might be able to come down tomorrow same time as last week if you'd like. Otherwise double up next week.
Sorry to hear about your knee, phone, and Galavaston. Hope everything is alright now.{{hugs}}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-15 08:36 pm (UTC)My knee is glorious shades of green and purple at the moment; I'll happily show it to you if you come down tomorrow. Of course, I'll probably also make you watch Fringe again, but it'll only be one hour this week and we'll have time for Atlantis before it instead of after (provided my rearview mirror continues to behave). *grin*
As far as Galveston Bay: our friends still living in the general area are OK, but we haven't seen any news actually out of La Porte yet. Just lots of damage in the surrounding towns and on Galveston Island itself. I'm kind of morbidly curious whether our old neighbourhood lost any more trees, like it did in Alisha in '83 while we were living there, but I guess I'll have to wait until Google Maps updates the area to be sure.