Gone

Chapter 1

Johnny's stomach rumbled and he cringed when it went on to growl loud enough for his family and everyone else in close proximity to hear. If he wasn't uncomfortably enough before he certainly was now.

//Shoulda had that third helping of eggs// he told himself his mouth watering at the very thought of food.

Shifting slightly in his seat he tried to ignore his itchy nose, his restless feet and by far the thing irritating him the most, the fur and feather creation perched precariously on Mrs Macs' head. He hoped for her sake it was dead! He'd been trying for the last hour not to look at the elaborately decorated bonnet but there was simply no avoiding it, not with its owner sitting directly in front of him. //Should be a law against wearing a thing like that in church! It's liable to leap up and maul the Reverend if he takes much longer…oh please! Not another hymn! I wouldn't mind but the Old Man nearly deafened me last time!//

Johnny stood and sidled closer to his brother as Murdoch's rich baritone voice soared to the rafters. //He sure can sing, Scott too, now me I couldn't carry a tune if my life depended on it//

After receiving a meaningful nudge from his sibling Johnny began to mime the words, another none too gentle nudge followed and the youngest Lancer sighed in resignation before he too began to sing. To his surprise the brunet found he liked the tune and the rousing chorus stirred him into giving his all only for him to receive a sharp dig in the ribs from his father for his efforts.

//I ain't that bad am I?// Johnny glanced quickly at his father who gave him a withering look. //Guess I must be! Teresa won't let me hear the last of this//

As the hymn came to an end everyone's head bowed in prayer. Johnny closed his eyes but opened them again as his ears caught the faint distant sound of gunfire. His hand went instantly to his hip but both his Colt and its holster were secured in his saddle bag.

No one else appeared to have heard the gun shot as all heads remained bowed, the Reverend James now giving the blessing. But it had unsettled Johnny still further and he began to fidget only to be nudged from both sides by two indignant elbows.

Johnny was equally as indignant //Alright, alright! Give me a break will ya, I ain't been in church since I…well not for a long time, and this here suit is doin it's best to suffocate me and these darn boots….well just look at 'em! They're so shiny... I'm almost scared ta look at 'em in case I see the devil lookin back!//

Another dig in the ribs made him open his eyes, to his relief he found the service over and the congregation leaving the church, one by one they were stopping and exchanging a few words with the Reverend. Johnny's heart sank //They didn't say I'd have ta talk ta him too!//

Stepping into the aisle Johnny leaned in close to his brother and whispered "Did you hear it?"

"The whole church did." Scott grinned.

"What? No, not me, the gun shot! Did you hear it?"

"No…"

"What are you whispering about John?" Murdoch asked a little intrigued by his younger son's apparent unrest.

"I heard a gun shot during the prayers."

Murdoch looked at Scott questioningly.

"No sir I didn't hear anything." Scott replied moving aside to allow Mrs McDonald to pass. The blond hoped fervently that the Widow Mac as she was affectionately known, would not stop to talk now, she could, according to his father 'talk a dead eye to sleep'…he'd hoped wrong, a set of twinkling green eyes settled on his family.

"John dear! How lovely to see you in Church. Scott you grow more handsome by the day. Teresa you look radiant and you…you old rascal you, I'm still waiting for you to come over for supper."

Murdoch smiled broadly at his old friend, pretending not to notice Johnny's widening grin. "One of these days Effie I may just surprise you, now why don't you let Johnny escort you home." The rancher watched the grin fade from his younger son's face.

"How lovely." Mrs Mac gripped Johnny's arm and led him towards Reverend James.

Scott watched his sibling being dragged away. "Like a lamb to the slaughter, that wasn't very nice of you Murdoch!"

"I know." Murdoch grinned.

"Oh you two are so mean. "Teresa giggled as all three watched Mrs Mac introduce Johnny to the new minister.

Ten minutes later Johnny stepped into the morning sunshine, breathing a sigh of relief as he felt its warmth on his face, it spoke of freedom. The Reverend had been something of a revelation to the youngest Lancer, a man of wit and good humour, he'd put Johnny at ease immediately with his warm handshake and laughing eyes. He'd openly teased Mrs Mac about her hat but still, the ex-gunfighter wasn't quite ready for any in depth conversation with a man of the cloth.

Mrs Mac once again took possession of his arm ready to steer him in the direction of her house. Johnny turned to wave to his family and called "I'll follow ya on home" under his breath he added a vengeful //Where I'll knock that smirk off your face brother//

The widow chatted away happily and Johnny tried unsuccessfully to join in the conversation. //The Old Man's right, she can talk the hind leg off a mule!//

On finally reaching their destination, a small but cosy looking abode on the edge of town, Johnny tipped his hat and was just about to say his goodbyes when he received an offer he just couldn't refuse.

"You'll join me for a cup of tea and some freshly baked apple pie won't you dear?"

The tea didn't appeal to him but the apple pie certainly did, Mrs Mac's apple pies were famous, a helping or two would certainly go a long way in holding off the hunger pangs. "Thank you Ma'am, I am a mite peckish." Johnny eagerly followed the widow in through the doorway but just seconds later he was rendered unconscious by the butt of a gun.

JML JML JML JML JML

"I wonder where they're going in such a hurry." The blond Lancer pointed towards the approaching riders.

"Looks like a posse." Murdoch replied, his hand finding Teresa's to reassure her as he pulled up the team pulling the surrey.

The ten riders slowed down as they grew closer, no one recognised any of the men but they did recognise the badges they wore.

"Howdy folks. Ma'am." Clancy Carter removed his hat as he addressed the trio introducing himself with a friendly smile "Sheriff Carter from Leesville." The smile faded as he went on to explain his presence so far north "We're trailing the Hogan gang, they held a stage coach up ten days ago, shot and wounded the driver and made off with at least twenty thousand dollars. I don't suppose you've seen any strangers here abouts?

"No sheriff but my son…" Murdoch gestured behind him "…he's in town; he thought he'd heard a gun shot when we were in church."

"Did he now…you didn't I take it"

"No." Murdoch answered, an uneasy feeling creeping through him, Johnny was still in town and he attracted trouble like a moth to a flame.

"Well we'll go check it out. Good day."

Murdoch stared after the departing posse Scott's words cutting through his anxious thoughts.

"He couldn't get into much trouble with Mrs Mac watching over him, could he?"

Murdoch grinned "I don't think trouble would dare cross Euphemia McDonald's path."

"I hope he doesn't join the posse." Teresa paled at the thought.

Murdoch and Scott looked at each other silently wishing the same thing.

"We'll get you home Teresa and then we'll go round him up." The patriarch said as the sense of unease inexplicably settled once more upon him.

TBC

Molly