Little Miss Tanner
By: Heidi L. Lane
Chris and Buck sat in the saloon playing a friendly game of poker and drinking coffee. They looked up when they heard the batwing doors open. A dark haired young woman stood in the doorway, glancing around as if she was looking for someone.
She was a pretty little lady and buck beam at her in greeting. “Can I help you, darlin’?” He asked.
She walked over to their table and smiled at both men. Chris noticed she was holding one of her hands behind her at an unusual angle as though hiding something behind her back. “Hello,” she said looking around the room, “I’m looking for Mr. Vin Tanner.” She spoke with a slight, pleasant drawl.
“He’s over at the jail, Miss…” Chris cocked his head in an unspoken question.
“Crafter,” the woman supplied, “Miranda. Thank you.” As she turned and walked out, Chris noticed a small girl with brown curls and bright blue eyes was clinging to her hand and hiding behind her skirts.
“C’mon, Buck,” he said, standing up, “This I wanna see.”
They followed Miss Crafter over to the jail at a leisurely pace, arriving just in time to witness Vin’s reaction to seeing her.
“Howdy, Mira,” he greeted softly, smiling at her.
“Hello, Vin,” she answered, “How have you been?”
“Alright. You meet Chris an’ Buck?” He asked indicating the two men.
“Not formally, no. I asked them where I could find you.” She paused and looked down before continuing, “Vin… I, um, have a small problem.”
“What’s wrong?” He asked, rising to his feet, concern evident in his voice.
“Well… I need your help. I need to hide for a while, do a lot of traveling. There are some people looking for me.” She smiled wanly and held up a hand as Vin reached for his rifle. She shook her head and continued, “No, Vin, I don’t need that kind of help. Though I appreciate the thought. You can’t shoot you’re way out of this kind of trouble.” Her eyes took on a far away look as she continued, “Guns may not even work on them.” Gathering her thoughts she asked, “Remember… when we met, Vin?”
“Was about six years back. You were lost.”
“And you were so kind. You made me dinner; we spent a few days… and in those few days… Vin you were so sweet and charming…” Vin smiled fondly, remembering. “But we knew it couldn’t last. I had to get on with my studies and you had criminals to bring to justice. But, well, something of that time did last. Vin… um, I got… Well, this –,” she gently pulled the little girl out from behind her back. “This is Winifred.”
Vin smiled slightly and crouched down so he was eye to eye with the girl. “Howdy.”
“Howdy. What’s your name?” The child lisped.
“I suppose I’m your papa,” Vin said softly. “Would ya like that?”
The little girl nodded and looked up at her mother solemnly, “Mama goin’ away now?”
“I’m afraid so, Winnie.” She looked at Vin wistfully. “This is the thing I needed your help with, Vin. Think you’re up to it?”
“I’ll do my best. Are you sure…?”
“It’s for the best. These people, I don’t want them anywhere near Winnie. It’s me they’re after she’ll be safer with you. I should go soon. When’s the stage come? This evening?”
“Should be. Does she need anything?” Vin frowned. He could tell how much it hurt Mira to be giving up her daughter like this. The people after her must be very dangerous. He knew, however, that Mira wasn’t the delicate flower she appeared to be. She had some powers that most people didn’t have access to.
“Maybe… some new clothes. We had to leave the last town pretty quickly. She had her bag with her, but our clothes was being laundered when we left. She has… she’s like me, Vin. You know what I mean.” Mira looked fondly at her daughter, then at Vin and said, “I suppose I should get some supplies for the trip.”
“Mrs. Potter’s store should have what you need,” Buck said helpfully. Mira nodded and, with one more glance at her daughter, turned and walked toward the door. There she paused, she turned and knelt, opening her arms wide.
Winnie ran over and gave her a hug. “I love you, Mama,” she said softly.
“I love you, too, Sweeting. Be good, mind your manners, eat all your vegetables.”
“Yes, Mama,” Winnie said, tears in her eyes. As Mira went out the door, Winnie turned around and ran back to Vin. Putting her arms around his leg she cried, “Papa!”
“Shh, It’s alright,” Vin soothed the child as he picked her up.
“Vin, I hate to put a damper on this, but are you sure…” Chris started.
“Until I met her, Mira hadn’t been with a man, Chris. She’s not a loose woman. If she says Winnie’s mine, it’s the truth.”
“Alright,” Chris said, nodding. “So have you thought about where you’re gonna live? I mean you can’t stay in your wagon…”
“Why not?” Vin asked, rocking Winnie slightly and smoothing her hair. “There’s room ‘nough.”
“Alright, if you’re sure. What about… this?” Chris held out his hands indicating the jail, but also the larger picture of his current life in Four Corners.
“If I have to go out of town, or I’m on patrol, Winnie can stay with Nettie or Ms. Travis or one of you. Won’t be any problems.”
Chris shook his head, smiling slightly, “You seem to have thought this through quick enough. Alright. She’s gonna need clothes. For that you’ll need money.”
“I have some,” Vin stated. “Been savin’ it.”
“Mama gave me this,” Winnie said holding out a small packet of folded paper. Vin unfolded it and found several dollars folded up inside. Glancing at the paper he noticed that it was a letter. He was glad that Mary had been teaching him to read. Barely year ago the letters and words on the page would have meant nothing to him. Scowling and knitting his brows he read:
“Vin,
Thank you for taking Winnie. I know this has come as a shock. She is gifted, just like all Crafters. She already has a copy of our Book, translated into English. Remind her not to use her gifts where non-family can see. It can scare them. They may think it’s witchcraft.
Goodbye, thank you, all my best,
Miranda A. Crafter
“What’s it say?” Buck asked.
“A lot,” turning to Chris, he asked softly, “Translated?”
“Hmm?” the man in black replied.
“Never mind. I’ll ask Ezra.” Looking down at the child in his arms he asked, “You got your Book, Winnie?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s in my bag. Wanna see?” The little girl held up a small carpetbag as he put her on the floor.
“Not just now. What else you go in there?”
The child started rummaging though the sack and pulling out things as she named them. “My Book, my journal, charcoal sticks, my counter…” here she pulled out a wooden board with a great many beads set on rods.
“That’s an abacus!” Ezra exclaimed as he entered the jail. Looking down at the child and smiling he asked, “You know how to use this, Darlin’?”
“A little… Mama showed me how. I do sums and take aways, that’s all.” The little girl reached back into the bag and began rummaging around again, chattering as she did so.
“What a remarkable child. Wherever did she come from?” The Southerner asked.
“Her mama had to leave her. She’s got some bad folks lookin’ ta do her harm. She’s a scientist. Studies the nat’ral world,” Vin explained.
“How did you get hitched up with someone like that?” Buck asked.
“Hitched up… Vin, she’s your child?” Ezra asked, smiling.
“Yup. That’s why her mama left her with me.” Turning to Buck he said, “I met her when she was lost in the woods, lookin’ for herbs. I found her.” Noticing that the little girl had stopped talking, he looked down. “What’s that you’re chewin’ on, Winnie?” he asked, noticing that she was eating something which she’d apparently taken out of her bag.
“Biscuit. Mama made ‘em… yes’erday.”
“Alright. You want a glass of milk to wash that down?”
“Yes, please.”
“Alright, let’s go over to the saloon an’ get you some milk an’ then over to Mrs. Potter’s store an’ get you some clothes.”
**
That night, Vin helped Winnie into the nightgown he’d bought in the general store and settled her into bed. She was still upset that her mother had left her; but she seemed to be setting in all right. Vin watched as she curled up on her side on the cot he’d prepared for her. Soon she was asleep. He smiled slightly and stepped outside the wagon. Sitting down on a wooden chair just outside he looked up at the stars. “Lord,” he said, “don’t often pray. That’s usa’lly J’siah. But… I’m not sure if this is the right thing. I don’t know about takin’ care a’ children, ‘specially little girls. You keep an eye on her mama, an’ send me help if I need it, if it’s alright with you. Thanks, Amen.” Vin sighed, reached into a pocket and pulled out his harmonica. He tapped it a few times on his knee, then began to play. Hearing approaching footsteps he stopped and turned around.
“She asleep?” Chris asked, coming to stand by his friend.
“Yup.”
“You alright?”
“I reckon,” Vin answered.
“Care for some advice?”
“I reckon.”
“When she’s older, she’s gonna need a room of her own. You might look into…”
“What… a house? C’n you imagine me all settled down?”
Chris chuckled, “It’s gonna happen soon, now you’ve got a kid.”
“I know.”
“Gonna have to stay close ta town too. Can’t be goin’ off for days, not with a little one to look after. You’re all she has, pard.”
“I know,” Vin sighed.
“If you need some time away from people, the two of you can always come out to my place.”
Vin smiled, “‘Preciate it, Cowboy.”
“Where are you sleeping tonight?” Chris asked. Vin pointed over his shoulder at the wagon. “With her?”
“They’s two beds. It’s bigger’n it looks.”
“Well, g’night then. I’m over at the jail if you need me.”
“G’night, Cowboy.” Vin climbed to his feet and went back into the wagon. As quietly as he could he got undressed and climbed in bed. He glanced over at the quietly sleeping little girl with eyes so like his own and thought of himself at her age. “Don’t worry, Darlin’,” he said softly, “I won’t leave you alone, not ever.”