Molly Montanna Part 1

John Redfeather glanced around the nearly deserted Montanna general store. Most of the local ranchers were out mending fences or tending to their cattle. As it was only he and his brother-in-law, Josh Hastings, were left pondering the shelves.
He stepped up to the counter as Josh was ringing up his purchases. Jeremy, a local teenager, appeared behind the counter.
"Okay, Mr. Hastings, I've done loaded your rig." Jeremy announced before dissapearing into the back room.
The shopkeeper shook his head, " I just don't know about that boy," he turned a broad grin back to them, " So....did ya hear?"
"Hear about what, Tom?" John asked, leaning against the counter.
"And please tell me this isn't about Paula." Josh chimed in quickly, rrefering to Tom's pregnant wife.
"No, no, but this will interest you, John. From what I've heard, Molly Travis is due to arrive in town within the week. Comin' in for her Pop's funeral, I guess." Tom said happily. Josh and John exchanged extatic looks.
"Wait a minute, Molly 'Firecracker' Travis is coming back?!" John diested the news aloud.
Molly Lyn Travis. Molly the Firecracker. She had been his best friend for sixteen years. They had done eveything together. Learned to ride, fought off bullies, and played some of the best pranks in the histor of the county. Then she had eloped at age sixteen and they had seen hide nor hair of her since. It had hurt him pretty bad.
"...don't you think, John?" Josh's voice brought him out of his reverie.
"What's that?"
"Josh was just saying how old Ross Travis'll be missed. You okay son?" Tom asked, his bushy brows contracting slightly.
John nodded, "Yes he will. But I think he deserves a trip to paradise after raising those hellions of his." he avoided the question easily.
"Amen!" Tom said. All three men burst out laughing. Ross Travis had five sons: Ben, Tyler, Luke, Matt, and Molly's twin Ryan. He and his wife had wanted a daughter to treat like a princess. They got Molly, who was probably worse than all five boys.....put together.
"Well, Tom, I guess e ought to be gettin' back. You're coming to Ross's funeral, right?" Josh said pushing his stetson back onto his head.
TOm nodded in surprise, "'Course. The whole damn county's gonna be there. Now go home and tell that wife of yours that Miss Molly's coming back to town."
"Only if you want her camping out at the county sign." Josh muttered as he dragged a half-dazed John out into the warm Montanna summer.1

* * *2


"Are you serious, brother?!" Susan Hastings nearly shreiked despite the baby in her arms.
"Yes, big sister, I am serious. Molly is really coming home." John laughed.
"No one's seen her in nearly twelve years. Not even Ryan!" Susan began pacing the kitchen floor in excitement, "I can't believe it! It makes sense though, her father did just die."
"This is going to be all over town by morning." Josh whispered.
"If Tom knows then it probably already is." John replied, just as his nephew began to fuss.
Susan suddenly came to a dead halt. She turned, her tan face was unnaturally pale. She didn't even seem to notice as John plucked Bryce from her arms.
"Darlin'?" Josh's brows furrowed.
"I wonder if she knows?"
"Knows what, u tlv?" John asked, bouncing the toddler on his knee.
"I was just wondering if she knew about Sylvie?" The three adults stared at each other, stunned.3

* * *4


It was late. Well past midnight, when Molly parked the '86 Chevy pick up outside of the Triple T Ranch.
This is it, she thought, I'm really here. She touched the cast on her forearm and wondered how she would carry their things in. She really didn't want to wake up her brother's tonight.
She sighed and leaned back in the seat. She adjusted the rearview mirror . A little girl lay curled in the back seat, fast asleep. Molly watched as she fidgeted within the confines of the seatbelt. She smiled.
"Becca? You awake, darlin'?" Molly whispered. The child didn't stir.
Molly sighed and pushed the door open. She'd tend to their horse first, then she'd wake Becca. She stomped around to the back of the trailer. Her Belgium Draft, Whisper, watched her in anticipation. He snorted in displeasure.
"Yes boy, I know. You hate traveling. It's okay, we're home now." She pressed her hand to the horse's snout. Instantly, he quieted down.
Moly was just about to release the latch when a beam of light fell on her. Her mind flashed back in time and she panicked. She let out an involuntary scream of terror.
She heard the truck door slam open and a pair of small feet hit the ground. A gunshot was fired, a door slammed, and everything went still.
The light feel from Molly's eyes, allowing her to see the whole scene. She couldn't have been more shocked.
Becca stood in front of her, a smoking shotgun leveled in front of her. Then, not ten feet in front of her, stood a man. He looked as if he'd seen the ghost of death.
"Ry?" Molly asked in disbelief.
"Molly? What the hell?! You aren't supposed to be here!" he said, glancing from his terrified sister to the child with the gun.
Molly suddenly came to her senses. "Becca, give me the gun. It's okay. This is my brother, Ryan." she slipped the gun from the child's fingers.
Ryan, obviously relieved, moved a few steps closer. He eyed his sister, taking in the well-hidden but obvious bruises, the cast on her arm, and the wary look.
"Ry," Molly said, putting the gun down, "this is Becca. She's my daughter."
Ryan and Becca simply stared at each other. Ryan began to speak but was cut off by the sudden appearance of four other men.
"Hey, Ry, what's going- Molly?!" Luke skidded to a halt, causing his brothers to bowl into him.
"Hey, guys. Good night?" Molly asked, pulling her daughter to her side. A move that was not lost on Ry.
Her brothers simply stared, so Molly reluctantly took the intiative. "Becca, this is Tyler, Ben, Luke, and Matt. They are my brothers too. Guys, this is Rebecca, my girl."
"Our neice." Ry insisted when the elder Travis brothers didn't move.
"Okay, well, welcome home." Ben said, " Matt, you take care of the horse. Ry, come with us. The rest of you go home to your wives." Molly recognized that tone. It was what her eldest brother had always used to ward off the fight.
Ben fished his sister's bags out of the truck. There were only two smal suitcases. Just as he was about to shut the door he noticed a small, stuffed horse. Oddly, he recognized it. It had been passed from brother to brother until it finally got to Molly. She must have given it to Rebecca, he thought. He picked it up and tucked it into his deep coat pockets.
Matt had already unloaded the horse and was halfway to the barn when Ben reappeared with the bags. Ry was surprised to see his twin, even more so to meet his neice.
"Come on, I'm sure these ladies are plum beat. Right, Rebecca?" Ry asked.
Becca simply stared, never moving a muscle. Molly followed behind Ben. Becca stayed close to her mother's side, clinging to her hand.
"How's Pa?" Molly whispered as they entered the darkened house.
She could almost feel Ben's smile, "Fine, just fine. He'll shit when he sees the two of you. He's been so depressed. He never thought he'd outlast his own sons, you see."
Ben led them up the stairs. He walked to the end of the hall to the last door without a moments hesitation. Molly had thought she would be put in the guestroom, but this was the door to her own old bedroom. Ben threw the door open.
"You'll have to share for tonight, but we can work on sleeping arrangements in the morning. It's kind of packed with all of us staying here." Ry explained quietly.
Molly jumped in quickly, " That's okay. Becca wants to stay with me. Right baby?" The small blonde head bobbed urgently.
"Great. Less work for me. Good night." Ry said and he wandered off down the hallway. A moment later a door opened and closed.
"Yes, I'm going to bed as well, but first...." he knelt down in front of Becca and pulled the toy out of his pocket, "Does this belong to you?"
"Nigel! GIve him back! Right Now! You shouldn't take things from little girls!" the childs voice was surprisingly quiet as she snatched the horse back.
Molly nodded, "Becca, go ahead and hop into bed. I'll be there in a minute." The little girl nodded, shot her uncle a dirty look, and dissappeared into the bedroom.
"Good night, little sister." Ben whispered.
"Night, Ben."
"Molly?" he asked just before she could shut the door.
"Yes?" she froze.
"I don't now what happened to you, Molly, but your safe here. You're home now and we're glad. We all missed you. I'm glad you're back."
"Thanks, Ben. Me too." she shut the door. His footsteps faded down the hallway.
Becca sat up as soon as her mother entered the room. "What do you think, Mama? Are we safe here?" she asked in a very adult manner.
Molly leaned against the door and looked at her daughter, "Yes, I do. He won't find us here, I'm sure of it. I think we're finally home."
She favored her daughter with one of her rare, genuine smiles.