Summary:   This is my story for the Halloween challenge.

Rated: K+  3300

                                                                                               Payback

As the rain began to fall Adam looked around wondering where he would find shelter. He scanned the horizon and saw nothing. Then, just as the first bolt of lightening lit up the sky he saw a house nestled in the valley below and hoped he’d be welcome.

Cece watched out the window as the stranger approached and smiled. Strangers were always welcome. They were a diversion she needed every now and again from the eternity of the monotonous task she was driven to do. Anyone who would have looked into her eyes would have thought she was an angel waiting to welcome a man through the pearly gates of heaven.

Adam thought to himself that the house looked a little familiar but he hadn’t been this way in over ten years. He decided to take it cautiously.

“Hello in the house. Is anyone home?”

Cece came out the door thankful that this man hadn’t just barged his way in. That never boded well for anyone, especially not the man. “You look like you’re getting soaked. Why don’t you put your horse up in the barn and come on in and join me. I was just getting supper ready.”

Again Adam had that slight feeling of recognition. “It would be my pleasure ma’am.”

A little while later Adam knocked on the front door and again Cece smiled at the proper way in which this man was handling himself. “Come on in. There’s no need to stand out there in the rain. I know that the porch roof leaks some but I never seem to get around to fixing it.”

Adam thought that perhaps he could stay around a little tomorrow and help with that. “If you want I can fix it for you, that is if your husband wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not married sir.”

“Adam Cartwright.”

“Cece Nelson Mr. Cartwright, but please I find standing on ceremony to be something that only wastes time and time is so very precious so will you kindly call me Cece?”

“If you’ll call me Adam.” Upon learning her name again Adam had a hint of familiarity and hoped it would come to him as to why. It was almost as if there was someone trying to prevent him from remembering.

“So Adam do you have a change of clothes or would you like to borrow some? I believe there are still some of papa’s things inside that might fit you.”

Adam lifted up the saddle bag he had brought inside with him. If riding the trail had taught him one thing it was to be prepared for anything. “I have a change with me.”

“Then if you like you can go into that room. It was papa’s. There’s water in the wash stand if you’d like to wash up. Once you’re done you can bring your wet clothes out and we can hang them by the fire to dry. ”

“Thank you I will feel more comfortable in dry clothes. Besides I don’t think you appreciate me dripping all over your floor.”

********
Adam had finished hanging his clothes up to dry. Even though Cece had offered to do it he told her he would so she could continue cooking because it smelt delicious and he was getting hungrier by the minute. He had noticed that the things in the bedroom had seemed, while lovingly cared for, somehow unused. “So Cece do you live out here alone?”

“For a number of years now. It use to be my father and me but papa had things he needed to see to. I know someday he’ll remember Romans 12:19. I’m sure that some day soon he’ll find peace so that when the time comes we can be together. If he’d only come home he’d see that I’m still here and that I’d never leave him.”

Adam felt like he had just been given some kind of a message but he wasn’t sure what it was or to who it was to be given. “You know I kind of recall coming this way some years back and I may have taken refuge with you and your father then.”

“Really? How many years back?”

“Ten or so.”

“I would have been only eight, nine at the most.”

“Your father was a preacher?”

“Yes he was. Did he spend the entire time trying to reform you?”

“No if I recall correctly he was most kind and didn’t give me any sermon.”

“That’s papa. He always chose to leave the sermons for Sunday. Said things had their proper place and sometimes preaching at a man when he wasn’t expecting it would only serve to have him trying to avoid being preached at when he needed it.”

“I think I recall you as well. You use to have a rag doll that you carried everywhere with you.”

“Most girls that age do.”

“But your’s was named Belle for the girl in the fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast’.”

“You have quite a memory Adam.” And a very strong will she thought.

“Only for things that make an impression on me and you did. You were very well read for someone so young.”

“That was papa’s doing. He taught me to read by the time I was four and while he insisted I read the Bible he also allowed me to read other things as well. I must say I enjoyed everything I read.” For one of the first times Cece could recall she began to regret things were as they were. There were times in the past that she might have briefly regretted things but she could always console herself with the knowledge that by being where she was she could help men like Adam in their travels. Give them shelter when they needed it. Wish them a safe journey and luck. Right now though, as she watched and listened to Adam speak of things, she found herself wishing circumstances could be different.

The evening passed and they talked of their memories of the past and things in the present. A few hours before dawn the rain let up and Adam had this strange feeling he needed to go. Cece knew he would stay if she asked, after all he had offered to repair the roof, but that was not the future she wished for him. Adam bid Cece goodbye and she had thanked him for not taking advantage of her or her situation and for the memories of the good times in the past he had brought to her. She wished him a safe journey and a happy life. He had noticed as he said goodbye there had been a slight longing in Cece’s eyes. Not the kind he saw in many women’s eyes but something different. A sadness and a longing for something one knows can never be, or maybe something ones knows could be but should never be. As he rode away he remembered thinking he had offered to fix the roof. Well maybe on his way back he’d stop and do that.

********

Adam rode into town and decided to see if he could find out more about Cece’s father’s whereabouts. He realized that while he had spoken of the past and present the only thing she had spoken of was the past. She had related so many stories of her father and all the good times they had. Perhaps if Adam could find him and tell him this he would return home and forget whatever it was that was keeping him away.

He asked around and was pointed in the direction of the sheriffs. What he found when he entered the office was something that reminded him of Sheriff Coffee back in Virginia City. It was an office filled with organized chaos and a man who seemed to know exactly where and what every scrap of paper was. “Hello sheriff I was wondering if you could help me.”

“I’ll try to son. What is it you need my help with?”

Adam felt instantly at ease with this man. Almost as if they had met before. He had never come into town ten years ago so he wouldn’t have met the sheriff then. Adam decided it must be the man’s hair. It reminded him of his fathers. “First let me introduce myself. I’m Adam Cartwright from Nevada and I was riding this way to take care of some business.”

The sheriff prepared himself for the story he knew would follow. No matter how many times he heard it, it still broke his heart. “You got yourself caught up in that storm last night didn’t you.”

“Yes sir but I was lucky enough to find shelter with a very sweet and hospitable young lady.”

“Let me guess. Her name was Cece.”

“Yes it was and I was wondering if you could help me locate her father. You see I think she really needs him to go home. Perhaps whatever business that has kept him away is something I can help him resolve.”

“You might be able to Mr. Cartwright but once you know the truth I hardly think you’ll want to.” After hearing it most men left confused and wondering how such a thing could happen to such an angel as Cece.

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Really? Let me tell you the whole story then. You see about three years ago there was quite a storm that blew in. Kind of like the one last night. It raged for two or three days. Kept the preacher from getting home but he was sure Cece would be alright. She was a smart girl with just one flaw. See she had faith and she trusted everyone. Now some say that was her father’s fault. Him always preaching about helping your fellow man and all. How we was all our brother’s keeper. But truth is anyone who knew Cece knows that was just her nature. She was a kind soul and would help anyone who needed helping. Unfortunately there are some souls beyond help. Some men who I don’t believe posses souls. Some men who are only demons in search of the angels God has put here on earth so that they can destroy them. Three years ago it was a man like that that came upon the house you took shelter in last night. When the preacher finally got home he found nothing but a burnt out shell where his house once was. We was never sure exactly what that devil did to her but we all have imagined the worst at one time or another. We did find her body, or her bones if you like, they were lying on what was once her bed holding what was left of her rag doll.”

“Belle.” Adam softly whispered. “Wait; are you trying to tell me that she’s dead?”

“Yes, has been for three years. Now the only reason I’m willing to tell you all this is because I believe you must have handled yourself in a very gentlemanly manor so the truth, while it will have you questioning your sanity, will never threaten it.”

“Why would you believe that?” Because Adam was questioning not his sanity, but why he wasn’t doubting the validity of this story more strongly.

“Because any man who tries to take advantage of her never makes it into town sane. They all come in ranting and raving about the demon girl who lives in that house. We take them out there. Show them there is no house but they’re never the same again. Some we have to keep locked up for their own good, some just sit and babble like idiots for the rest of their lives. The only thing they both have in common is that those lives are never very long. See every one of those who have tried to harm Cece in some way have all ended up killing themselves. It’s usually after many sleepless nights. If they do fall asleep from sheer exhaustion they always wake up screaming loud enough to wake the entire town. Most end it with a bullet. We had one who put out his own eyes. Said he just kept seeing the demon’s eyes and he had to get rid of them somehow. Now mind you by then we knew the dangers of what would happen if someone like him was given a weapon of any kind so the only thing he was ever given was a spoon at supper time. He didn’t last long after that, died from shock the doc said. I think it was more fear that killed him. We had one rather ingenious fellow. See he was locked in the cell right over there. There was no way he could get to a weapon, we wasn’t even given out spoons to men like him by then, but he managed to rip up his own pants and make a noose. Found him hanging from the window bars the next morning. I don’t know if you realize it but there was no way for his neck to have snapped so he had to hang there and strangle to death. It must a been some fear she put into him for a man to want to die like that rather then live with it.”

“I can’t believe the sweet angel I spent yesterday with would do that to anyone.”

“She doesn’t. I told you they do it to themselves. All she’s ever done is perhaps show them what awaits them as payment for all they’ve done in this life.”

“And that puts them in such a hurry to end it and start paying that debt?”

“No but maybe it’s better to face up to it then to live anticipating it. Besides like I said none of them is in their right mind anyway so who knows how someone like that will react to anything.”

“So any man who goes there goes insane.”

“No, only the ones who try to take advantage of her. There have been a few who like you have treated her with the respect due her or any woman. Those men all seem to have good fortune follow them. They are all leading happy fulfilling lives. They all say they were blessed by her and her wishes of happiness. Once they accept the story as truth they all say they feel as if they have been given a miracle. To them she appears as the angel we all knew her to be. To them her eyes held only beauty and peace.”

“And sadness.”

“Yes they too have said that as they bid her farewell they saw a hint of sadness in her eyes.”

Adam couldn’t believe he was taking this so calmly. Why wasn’t his common sense telling him this was all some story fabricated to frighten people and for some reason keep them away? The thing was the more he heard of the story the more he wanted to know. The more he felt like going back. Something told him even if he were to return he wouldn’t see her again. It was a test given to a man only once. He either passed or failed. No second chances. Depending on his actions he either saw the sweet angel or the avenging angel. “I’d still like to find her father.”

“Why?”

“I think she gave me a message for him.”

“A message? She’s never given anyone a message before.”

“Well maybe it’s because it wasn’t the first time we had met.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I was fortunate enough to have been trapped in a storm about ten years ago and I found shelter with her and her father then.”

“I see. So what was this message?”

“She said that someday he’d remember Romans 12:19 and that she was sure that some day soon he’d find peace so that when the time came they could be together. She said if he’d only go home he’d see that she’s still there and that she’d never leave him.”

“Are you sure that’s what she said.”

“Yes very sure. Now while I do have knowledge of the Bible I can’t quite recall what Romans 12:19 is so would you happen to have one lying around?”

“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
“Excuse me?”

“Mr. Cartwright you may have some knowledge of the Bible but I have all knowledge of the Bible. I never properly introduced myself I’m Sheriff Nelson, Cece was my daughter. I took this job because the sheriff before me could no longer stand seeing the men who crawled in here. I on the other hand was happy to see them, to see men like the man who killed my daughter destroy themselves. I swear to you I took every precaution to keep them from committing the ultimate sin but I never felt sorry when they succeeded. I hoped of someday finding the man who did that to my little girl but over the years I have begun to believe she will find him and he is the one man who will not even make it into town. If no man comes in after a storm I ride out to see if I can find one lying where I found her. I know his face will show the traces of a man who has seen a terror no man has ever seen. Perhaps she is the instrument God will use to get His vengeance.”

“Let’s say I believe all this. Why don’t you ride out to see her?”

“Don’t you think I’ve tried? I never find her or the house. The only thing I ever feel is a sense of longing.”

“Perhaps she only wants you to go home. To rebuild what was once a happy place. Maybe she isn’t exacting vengeance to ease her suffering but to ease yours. Maybe all she wants is her papa to come home.”

“Maybe. Maybe it’s time for me to do just that. God knows I am getting tired and if it truly was a message she was giving you, if I can go there and just feel her around me I will be a happy and content man once again.”

The conversation was interrupted by the loud crash of thunder.
“It looks as if another storm has blown in.” Adam watched the sky light up and felt a shiver go through him. Would tonight be the night Cece would finally find her peace?

********

As the rain began to fall the stranger looked around wondering where he would find shelter. He scanned the horizon and saw nothing. Then, just as the first bolt of lightening lit up the sky he saw a house nestled in the valley below and he rode toward it daring anyone to turn him away.

The man thought to himself that the house looked a little familiar but he hadn’t been this way in three or four years and it took more memory then he possessed to remember all he’d done. It didn’t matter because he would take what he wanted just as he always did. Anyone who tried to refuse him always ended up giving him what he wanted one way or the other. Thing was once they refused they had to pay the price for their insolence and it was always the ultimate price.

Cece watched out the window as the man rode into the yard and dismounted. As he reached for the door she smiled. Despite his improper behavior this man was most welcome. He was the one who would free her from the eternity of the monotonous task she was driven to do. Anyone who would have looked into her eyes would have seen waiting for this man the very fires of hell.