Title: Family Life
By: WolfPyre and Firefly
Achive: Permission Granted
Rated: PG�some bad language�nothing serious
Author: WolfPyre
Feedback: [email protected]
Disclaimer: Not mine�just borrowing them
Note: I started this fic then the muses dissappeared. I put it out on a list and asked if anyone wanted to finish it. Firefly came to the rescue. This is the finished result!
Warning: This story contains reference to spanking children as discipline. If that�s not something you like to read please do not continue.
This is an AU story set in the years after the series ended. I often wondered what happened to the seven. I wanted some of the characters closer in age to my OC�s, so the timeline for this story will not follow the timeline from the series. Don�t worry�it will still make sense! The list of characters, other that the seven, are below:
Emily Tanner: Vin�s wife
Jessica Lynn Tanner: Vin�s and Emily�s 9-year-old daughter (she prefers Jesse)
Logan Christopher Tanner: Vin and Emily�s 6-year-old son
Mary Travis Larabee: Chris�s wife
Billy Travis Larabee: Mary�s son from her 1st marriage. He is 12-years-old in this story (this is where the timeline doesn�t fit <grin>)
Jacob Vin Larabee: Chris and Mary�s 9-year-old son. He and Jesse are best friends
Riley Elizabeth Larabee: Chris and Mary�s 7-year-old daughter
Alyssa Standish: Ezra�s Wife
Jared Thomas Standish: Ezra and Alyssa�s 7-year-old son (twin of Connor)
Connor James Standish: Ezra and Alyssa�s 7-year-old son (twin of Jared)
Inez Wilmington: Buck�s Wife
Adam Michael Wilmington: Buck and Inez�s 8-year-old son
Kiley Ann Wilmington: Buck and Inez�s 6-year-old daughter
Maria Sanchez: Josiah�s Wife
Abigail Nicole Sanchez: Josiah and Maria�s 6-year-old daughter
Rain Jackson: Nathan�s Wife
Jacey Skye Jackson: Nathan and Rain�s 7-year-old daughter
Joshua Daniel Jackson: Nathan and Rain�s 6-year-old son
Casey Dunne: JD�s Wife
Haley Michelle Dunne: JD and Casey�s 5-year-old daughter
Nettie Wells: Casey�s aunt and Vin�s �foster mom�
This story will mostly revolve around the children and how the seven deal with their antics and adventures. If this is not something you would enjoy, please do not continue to read.
***************
�I got it! I got it!� Jessie yelled as she ran over to the deer she�d just taken down. She looked the animal over. �Look pa! I got it clean through!�
Vin squatted down next to his daughter. �Ya sure did.� He stood up and pulled Jessie into a hug. �That makes two ya shot t�day. Think that�s �nough fer all the fellas?�
Jessie nodded. �See, I told ya I got a good �nough shot ta go huntin with ya.� She said arrogantly.
Vin started preparing the carcass for the trip back home. �Jist r�member what I said �bout ya touchin that rifle.�
�I know. Don�t touch it without ya with me. Still don�t see why I cant though.� She added petulantly.
�Yer lucky I�s lettin ya shoot ta begin with. Still think yer too young.�
�But ya learned when ya was my age.�
�Was different then. I had ta learn since my grandpa couldn�t get out easily. The only reason yer out here with me is cause yer ma asked me ta take ya so�s ya quit yer whinin.�
�I wasn�t whinin. Just tryin ta make a point.�
�So am I. Don�t think I hafta tell ya what�ll happen if�n I catch ya touchin that rifle.�
Jessie gulped. �No sir.�
�Good.� Vin finished getting the deer ready. �Let�s get on home. Yer ma�s prolly gettin� worried since we�s been gone so long.�
<><><><><>
The following morning, the cousins were outside the school waiting for Miss Strong to ring the bell.
�Did you hear?� Jared asked as he ran up to the group.
�Hear what?� Jake replied.
�Potter�s store was broken into last night.�
Adam gave him a blank look. �So?�
�So?� Connor chimed in. �There were claw makes on the wood around the window that the thief broke to get inside.�
Jessie�s interest perked up. �Claw marks? Like an animal?�
Jared turned to face her.�Yep. But there were footprints in the dirt. Human footprints.�
�C�mon. Ya �spect me ta believe that? There aint no animal that has claws and footprints that look like a human�s.�
�Maybe it wasn�t an animal.� Jacey stepped forward. �My pa told me a story �bout this half man/half beast nicknamed Bigfoot. The story goes that this creature had extra large feet and claws like a bear. Maybe that�s what did it.�
�Oh come on�� Adam began before being cut off my Jessie.
�I aint sayin yer right, but how �bout we go take a look once school lets out? We cain see fer ourselves if there�s anythin to this. We just have ta keep it quiet or our pa�s will try ta stop us.�
�Yeah, and if there is we�ll have to try and catch it.� Connor said excitedly.
�Why?� Jake asked.
�Cause I heard my pa and Uncle Josiah talkin �bout a big reward for bringing it in.�
<><><><><>
As soon as school let out, the cousins made a mad dash over to Potter�s store.
Jessie squatted down and looked at the footprints before standing up to see the claw marks.
�Well?� Connor prompted.
�Looks like a bear claw but those prints definitely aint no bear.�
�I knew it!� Jared said excitedly.
�What are you kids doing here?�
�Pa! Uncle Vin!� Jake yelped in surprise.
�All of you get away from there.� Chris commanded. The children filed out of the alley onto the boardwalk.
Jessie moved to stand next to Jake. �Now Uncle Chris, we was just lookin�. We didn�t touch nothin�.�
�Good. But you still didn�t answer my question. What are you doing here?�
�Well, Jared told us �bout the break in. We just wanted ta see it for ourselves.�
�Why ya so interested? Ya aint never been �fore?� Vin asked.
�Jared told us �bout the marks lookin� like an animal but that there�s footprints. Then Connor said there was a reward for catchin whatever did this.� Logan answered.
�Shut up you idiot.� Jessie said angrily and slapped her little brother in the head.
�OW!�
�Jessica.� Vin waited for his daughter to look at him. �What I say �bout ya hittin Logan?�
Jessie cringed at the sternness in his voice. �Not to.�
�Ya do it agin we�s gonna have us a talk. Clear?�
�Yes pa.�
�Okay, I wanna get something straight.� Chris announced, bringing the focus back to the break in. �We don�t know what caused these marks or who could have broken into the store, but me, Vin and Buck are riding out to see if we can find anything.�
�Was Connor tellin� the truth �bout the reward?� Jake interrupted.
�Yes he was. The person who did this has been robbing people all over the territory so there�s a bounty on their head.�
�What if it aint a person?� Logan asked.
Jessie raised her hand to smack Logan again but caught the look on her pa�s face and thought better of it.
Vin gave Jessie one last look before turning to his son. �What do ya mean?�
�Well, the footprints are a mans and the scratch marks are an animals. What if what Jacey said is true?�
�Yer losin me. What did Jacey say?�
�She said it coulda been a�a�� Logan scrunched his face up trying to remember what she called it.
�A Bigfoot.� Jacey supplied.
�Yeah, a Bigfoot.� Logan finished.
Vin smiled. �Now kids, that�s jist an ole campfire story. Aint no such thing as a Bigfoot.�
�Then what made those marks?� Jessie challenged her pa.
�Not sure. That�s why we�s ridin out to look.�
Jared turned to Chris. �Uncle Chris, how much is the reward?�
�$500.� Chris saw the look in his nephew�s eyes. It was just like his father�s whenever money was mentioned. He realized what the children were planning to do and decided to stop it before it even started. �You all can just put catching the thief outta your heads. This man�s dangerous and I don�t want anyone of you near him.�
�But Uncle Chris�� Several of the kids started.
�You heard me.� Chris ignored the children�s grumbling. �Now, all of you have chores to do. Better get on home and get to them.�
Vin and Chris watched the kids leave. �Bigfoot.� He snorted. �What a crazy notion.�
�Yeah, well crazy or not, they got it into their heads that�s what did it. We�re going to have to really keep an eye on Jessie and Jake. You know those two would be willing to risk their hides on something like this.�
�I know. Plan on talkin ta Jessie t�night ta make it clear she aint ta go lookin fer the person that did this.�
�Funny, I had the same plans for Jake.� Chris stated. �Well, let�s go warn the others.�
<><><><><>
Jake waited until he and Jessie were walking by themselves before speaking. �Well, there goes our plan for catchin a Bigfoot.�
�Guess so.� Jessie replied.
�So when we headin out ta look?�
Jessie smiled. �There�s a full moon tonight. Should be �nough light ta see by.�
�Meet ya at the same place?�
�Yep.�
<><><><><>
Vin settled himself into his chair with his after supper coffee. �Jessie.� Vin waited for her to look up from her homework. �I wanna make it clear ya aint ta go lookin fer the man who broke inta Potters store.�
Jessie fought the smile that came at her pa�s sentence. She knew he was going to talk to her about today and was slightly worried about how to get through the conversation without actually lying. He unwittingly gave her the way.
�I wont pa.�
Vin gave his daughter a doubtful look. �Well, if�n ya decide ta disobey me an go anyway, ya know what ya cain �spect when ya git home.�
�Don�t worry pa, I aint gonna go lookin for that man.�
<><><><><>
�Hey!� Jessie whispered as she grabbed Jake from behind.
Jake grabbed at his chest. �Ya tryin ta give me a heart attack?�
�Ya ready?�
�Yep. Let�s go.�
They quickly made their way towards town. �I heard my pa tellin my ma that the tracks lead out the east side of town. I think we outta start there.� Jessie said.
�You�re the tracker�s daughter.�
Once they passed the schoolhouse, Jessie started looking for tracks.
�Lotta people been walkin around here. Ya sure your gonna be able ta find Bigfoot�s?�
�Sure I�m sure. All I need ta do it look fer big footprints.� She moved off to her right. �Here�s one. Looks like he kept headin east. C�mon.�
They followed the tracks for a while and found themselves near the pond. �He stopped here fer a drink �fore he moved on.� She looked at the signs. �Went north after that.�
�Ya think we outta follow it some more?�
�We could, but it headed towards the trees. I aint gonna be able ta follow the tracks in there cause the trees�ll block the moonlight. We�ll hafta wait till Saturday so�s we cain look durin the day.�
�But that�s a day away. The tracks still gonna be there?�
�Should if it don�t rain. Sides, we don�t gotta choice we got school t�mrrow.� Jessie turned and started for home. �We�ll saddle up our horses an start fresh on Saturday. We�ll cover more ground that way.�
�Sounds good ta me.�
<><><><><>
Jessie carefully made her way up the tree next to her room. She pried the window open and quietly climbed through it, being sure to not step on the creaking board beneath it.
�Evenin�.� A voice sounded from the bed.
Jessie spun around. �Pa!�
�Ya know, if�n ya didn�t want ta git caught ya might of made sure me an yer ma were asleep �fore ya decided ta sneak out.� Vin stood up and lit the lamp. �Yer ma was mighty surprised when she went ta check on ya �fore turnin in an didn�t find ya in yer bed. Mind tellin me where ya were?�
�Not really.� She mumbled.
�Jessica.� Vin warned.
Jessie sighed. �Me an Jake went lookin fer tracks.�
�Tracks?� Vin pinned his daughter with a stern glare. �Ya was out trackin the man that robbed Potters store even after I tole ya not ta?�
�Yes sir.�
�An correct me if�n I wrong, but didn�t ya tell me ya wouldn�t?�
�Yes sir.�
�So�s ya lied ta me.�
�No sir. I didn�t lie.� She replied emphatically as she covered her backside with her hands. �I wasn�t trackin a man. I was trackin Bigfoot.�
Vin rubbed at his eyes wearily at his daughter�s sense of logic. �Jessica, ya knowed when I tole ya not ta track that man, I meant ta not track the thief, man or beast. Didn�t ya?� He asked dangerously.
Jessie swallowed convulsively. She knew she was in deep trouble when her father used that tone of voice. �Yes sir.�
�Then ya know what ta �spect.� He pulled his belt off and sat back down on the bed. �Bend over.�
�Now pa��
�Jessica Lynn, if�n I hafta tell ya agin, I�s gonna take yer britches down.�
Jessie didn�t want that, so she quickly lowered herself over his knee. Five sharp licks later, Vin stood Jessie up. He pulled her into his lap, careful of her inflamed backside. �We best not need ta have this talk agin.�
�N-No sir.� Jessie cried.
�Let�s git ya ready fer bed.� He helped her undress and put her nightshirt on. �G�night Sunshine. I love ya.�
�Love ya too.� Jessie replied. �An pa?�
Vin looked over his shoulder.
�I�m sorry.�
�S�okay. I forgive ya. Now go ta sleep.�
<><><><><>
About the same time Vin and Jesse were having their discussion, Jake arrived home. He walked around the back of the house towards the wooden trellis he used to get down from the roof and froze. There, leaning against the trellis was his pa, smoking a cheroot.
�Pa!� Jake yelped in surprise.
�Don�t recall giving you permission to go wandering in the middle of the night.� Chris stated as he snuffed out the cheroot.
�Now pa I can explain��
Chris interrupted him. �Come with me.�
They walked the short distance to the barn in complete silence. Once they entered, Chris lit a lantern and leaned against the stall gate.
�Sit down.� He directed Jake pointing to a hay bale in front of him. �Start talking.�
�Well, me an Jesse were out walking.� Jake said sticking to the story they had concocted.
�Just walking?�
Jake�s mind raced. He couldn�t lie�he wasn�t suicidal. �We was followin some tracks.�
�Wouldn�t be tracks that belong to the thief, now would they?�
�Could be.� Jake hedged.
�Didn�t I tell you to forget about that?�
�Yes sir.�
�Yet you decided to ignore me and go looking anyway. Did I not make myself clear?�
�You were very clear sir. We was just curious.�
Chris took off his belt. �Well, your curiosity just bought you a tanning.�
<><><><><>
�Jesse wake up and get yerself down ta breakfast.� Came her mother�s order from her bedroom door. Jesse turned to lie on her back and immediately regretted doing so.
Ten minutes later she seated herself at the table where her ma placed a bowl of porridge in front of her. Jesse grumbled about having to eat porridge for breakfast but one of her mother�s warning glares made her quip up and eat.
It wasn�t until she was half way through her breakfast that she noticed her pa wasn�t there. �Ma? Where�s pa?�
�He, Chris, Ezra, Josiah, JD, Nathan, and Buck went lookin for the thief. He�ll be home fer supper. Now you best git goin before yer late for school.� She said with a gentle swat to get Jesse and Logan out the door.
<><><><><>
�So didja git caught last night?� Jesse asked Jake before taking a bite of her sandwich.
Jake absentmindedly rubbed his backside, �Yeah. You?�
Jesse nodded. �Ya know it sur would be nice ta have all that money.�
�Sure would.� Jake agreed, �Hey Jess?�
�Huh?�
�What if�n we caught the thief �fore our pa�s do, then we cain prove that we�s not too young to do things on our own, and we�d git that big reward��
Jake caught Jesse�s interest, �Go on.�
�Well yer the daughter of a tracker, so it caint be that hard, all we�ll need I reckon is a rifle and yer trackin� skills.�
�I dunno Jake, Pa�s goina be mad something fierce if I go an take that gun without him knowin.�
�Ya, I�s just seggestin,� he said before their eyes met and a grin crept over Jesse�s face.
�How �bout after school.�
�Sounds good ta me.�
<><><><><>
Emily Tanner paced back and forth across the front porch. She had been to the schoolhouse, the pond, and all around town looking for Jesse. She met up with Mary in town earlier who had informed her that Jacob never came home either, and neither Billy or Riley had seen Jake or Jesse since the bell rang.
<><><><><>
Jesse and Jake crept through the thick brush following the large tracks. Jesse led the way with her rifle loaded and steady. It was getting darker out and the density of the brush wasn�t letting up any.
They were pretty far into the woods when they started hearing noises around them, one particularly loud one came from right behind them causing Jacob to scream and Jesse to pull the trigger causing a loud BANG into the air.
�What do youse think yer doin� on my property?� An old, scary looking man asked. He was carrying a rifle and had a large, scary looking dog with huge claws standing by his side.
�Umm�we�s was jist��
�Youse was just here to steal my chickens!� The man concluded defensively.
�N...n�nno siir, we�s was jist here ta�ta��
The man put up his large callused hand to stop her from saying anything further, �I�ll let the county sheriff deal with youse. I reckon he knows jist how ta handle thieves.�
<><><><><>
Jacob and Jesse sat in front of a stern looking man at the Ridge county jail. The rifle that was acquired as soon as the two were brought in was sitting on the desk in front of them.
�A little young to be using a weapon on your own aint ya?� the sheriff questioned raising one of his bushy eyebrows at the children.
�Yes sir.� Jesse answered politely. (Hey at least she was smart)
�Ok kids, what�re yer names.� He asked holding a pencil to write them down.
�Jacob Larabee.� Jake answered quietly. The sheriff stopped writing and looked carefully at the boy.
�Larabee? You related to Chris larabee?�
//Just my luck// Jacob thought to himself. �Yes sir, He�s my dad.�
�Boy you crazy? He�s gonna flip when he finds out!�
//tell me something I don�t know//
The man turns to Jesse. �Guess that makes you Vin Tanner�s girl. Ya look jist like him.�
�Yes sir.�
�Don�t think he�s gonna be too happy either.�
�No sir, I reckon not.�
<><><><><>
Meanwhile Chris, Vin and the others return to find two almost hysterical wives worrying about their missing children.
�Calm down,� Vin said rubbing his wife�s shoulder, �They caint�ve gotten that far, we�ll go wire out ta nearby towns n see if they�ve seen em.� He looked into Emily�s eyes, �We�ll find �em.�
With that said Chris and Vin saddled up and headed down to the jail to wire a message.
�I swear if them kids decided to take off and go looking for that thief again, they aint goina sit for a month!� Chris said angrily.
<><><><><>
�Well,� the sheriff started as he returned to his seat across from the two miscreants. �It seems your pa�s are lookin fer ya. The sent me a message about a half-hour ago. I reckon they�ll be here in about ten minutes.� He didn�t fail to notice two very contrite children squirming in their seats.
The sheriff handed them each a biscuit from his dinner since he assumed they hadn�t eaten yet, �That should tie yas over.�
<><><><><>
(15 minutes later.)
�JESSICA LYNN TANNER!�
Jesse cringed as the familiar voice boomed from the doorway. She turned to look at him as he pierced her with a glare that could freeze hell. When he noticed the rifle on the desk in front of her he snapped.
Before Jesse knew it, she was pulled under Vin�s arm as he delivered six stinging swats to her behind. �OW! Pa!� He let her out of his grasp and sat her down on the wooden chair she had just recently vacated HARD!
�What in hell were you two thinking? And Jessica Lynn were you not told that you weren�t to touch that rifle without my being with ya?� Vin asked dangerously.
�Yes sir.�
�Jacob Vin Larabee,� Chris started to get Jake�s attention, �Do you two have any idea how much you scared yer ma�s today? You could�ve been hurt, or worse killed and no one knew where ya�s were.� Chris went into a full-blown lecture about following rules for safety, and how they weren�t supposed to go after the thief, etc, etc.
When he was finished lecturing he thanked the sheriff and led a soon-to-be very sorry little boy out to his horse, giving him a few impromptu swats along the way. Vin followed dragging Jesse with him, carrying her rifle.
The sheriff shook his head when the four rode off, �I�m sure glad I ain�t in their shoes right now.� He said to himself with a slight chuckle.
<><><><><>
By the time Vin and Jesse got home, Jesse was getting really nervous. Her backside was already hurting and she knew she had broken a lot of rules that afternoon.
She stood there and watched as her father bedded down Peso for the night, then inwardly cringed when he handed her his pocketknife.
�Ya know what ta do.� He said simply.
�Please Pa don�t�� Vin held up his hand to cut her off.
�Jessica, you broke a lot of rules today. First of all you left after school without tellin yer Ma where ya were going, ya didn�t do yer chores, ya lied, ya went after a thief after I done tol ya not ta. You put yerself in danger, and used the rifle without my supervision. Not get yerself over there and cut me a switch.�
She looked up at Vin�s stern face. �Yessir.�
She returned five minutes later with a switch and placed it into her father�s outstretched hand. Vin directed her over to the hay bale and began cleaning it off.
�Drop yer britches and lean on over it.�
�Paa�pleaaseeee.� She pleaded, already in tears.
�Now Jessica.� He directed her with another glare as she pushed her pants down past her knees. He undid the flap on her undergarments and brought the switch down on her unprotected behind. It seemed an eternity as far as Jesse was concerned, but finally he finished and held her in a fierce embrace.
�I�s sorry Pa.� She said, her voice still hitching from the tears.
�I forgive ya. Ya know I�s don like doin that dontcha?�
�Yes sir.�
<><><><><>
While Vin and Jesse were having their discussion, another �discussion� was heating up in the Larabee homestead.
�Pa, please I�m sorry.�
�Your actions today are unacceptable Jacob,� Chris said as he pulled his thick leather belt from its loops. He pulled Jacob over to him and bared his bottom. �I�m sorry to have to do this son.� He said as the first lick fell.
<><><><><>
(2 days later)
After church the whole family got together for lunch. Jesse and Jacob sat on the porch watching the other children play.
�I wonder who the thief really was.� Jacob said to Jesse.
Jesse shifted to find a more comfortable sitting position. �I dunno Jake, but I have a feelin we was real close.�
<><><><><>
The old man sat in his chair petting his dog. �Aww Killer, dem kids sure were close to discoverin� out little secret.� He pondered out loud. �Maybe it�s bout time we lay low fer a while what do you think?�
The dog barked in response and places a large clawed hand on his master�s lap. �Yeah dat�s what I thought.�
THE END!