Baby

the hillside leading to the rock. She remembered years ago, pausing to rest here the night she discovered Baby. Stifling a sob, she thought about all the happiness he brought to her barren life; and to Wil’s. She pushed all thought of Wil away. She could not afford to cope with her heartbreak now.
    Netty navigated the path until she came to her rock. Finally, she found a safe second to pause, forcing painful gulping sobs down her throat. Reaching into her pocket she withdrew the gold coin. Bitterly, she thought about the trouble her impulsive decision to steal it had rained down on her. Suddenly, flashing auras with their accompanying pressure assaulted her mind. She felt strangled cries. Baby, oh no.
    “Sister, bad Brother . Bad Brother … bad Brother. ”
    Netty’s heart fell. Was Baby warning her or was he in danger himself. She slowly turned. It was Eli. He held her Winchester in his hands. Netty felt frozen to the rock. Only a few steps to freedom and it damnably eluded her.
    “Where ya go’n, sweetie? Aint ya happy ta see me?” Leaping forward, he grabbed Netty’s pony tail, painfully yanking her back toward the trail. She stumbled and fell, hearing Eli curse her. Her hand reflexively opened, accidently releasing the gold coin. She could hear it as it bounced from rock to rock finally settling out of sight near the cairn marking the entrance to the cavern.
    “Get yer ass movin’ now, Netty gal. He’s not a patient man.” Netty saw the glee dancing in Eli’s eyes. She pulled herself to her feet, trying to keep up. She knew her chances of escape were now limited. As they neared the edge of the woods, they were joined by more of Robert’s men. Judging by the shouts and nasty laughter, she knew they were going to be looking for blood. By the time they cleared the woods, she was being dragged on the ground by three men, her tail bumping painfully over the rocks. Hauling her upright, she found herself back at the cabin in front of her barn, Baby thankfully, nowhere in sight. In front of her stood Robert, holding something wrapped in a handkerchief.
    “Well, Netty it’s been a long time. I hear you have something of mine.” He glanced around to his men, a depraved grin on his spiteful face. “Well now, I just might have something of yours.” He released the handkerchief, allowing it to open before tossing it on the ground. Out rolled a human hand, stiff and gray, clearly severed from a human wrist. Netty could see the telltale signs of iridescent blood that soaked into the handkerchief. Soundlessly, she collapsed to the ground, her futile denials confirmed.
    When she came out of her faint, Netty found her hands tied behind her back as she stood on the back of her very own wagon, her horse in his traces, prancing nervously. She felt something heavy around her neck. Looking up she saw a rope thrown over the cross support over her barn door. The very rope attached to the noose weighing down her neck.
    “Don’t worry about the farm, Netty. I’ll take good care of it, just the way we did with your wop drifter.” Stepping closer to the wagon he gave her a wink. Netty strained, leaned over and spat in his face. Wiping his face with his sleeve, Robert shouted for the sheriff.
    “Alright Sheriff, I have determined the honors will be yours.” As the sheriff approached, a loud bang came from the stoop of the cabin. It was Eli. He had one hand wrapped around Baby’s crown of crystal antlers, holding him high in the air. The other held Baby’s kitten by its neck.
    “Look what I found in the bedroom. The weird fucker mus’ be her pet.” Netty’s mind felt a chaotic aura.
    “ Sister, bad Brother, all bad Brothers.” Netty screamed.
    The last thing she saw as the Sheriff slapped her horse with his hat, jerking her in the air to snap her neck, was Eli, putting a bullet in the kittens head on the stoop and tossing Baby to the ground as he jumped, landing on Baby’s head with a crunch, spilling his glorious iridescent blood in the dirt before lifting his boot to her stoop, wiping off the essence of the incredible creature that she and Wil loved so much.
    ###
    Silence descended over the crowd. The men stared at Netty’s limp body as it twisted from the noose, her weight causing the wooden barn support to creak eerily. In the distance, wheels of the wagon rattled mournfully over loose stones as Netty’s horse nervously stamped, unattended.
    “All right, the shows over. Someone cut her down, for