Chapter Twelve


The men took to horses in the dark of the goddamned night. Sheriff Buell arrived, and O'Malley, with horses. Buell had a glare for Marie-Rose, her still being present. She glared right back. The Winchesters had consulted, packed a few things, including candles and bags of salt, ash and things that gave her cause to chill something fierce. The thunder was loud enough to make a body jump, and rain came straight down.

"What are you thinking?" Marie-Rose demanded. "It's full dark and the storm is on us."

Sam looked solemn and fretful, but Dean answered her with confidence as he checked Blackie's cinch.

"Just a quick ride out to the Gospel mill. Sammy here's been working on his Latin for the priesthood."

"You think the Reverend is in danger?" Not that she much cared, but still, humanity.

Sam chewed his lip. Dean nodded down at her and his smile was all fox. "Yes, ma'am, he is. If we're right."

She didn't like that grin one bit. Buell and O'Malley wheeled their horses impatiently in the road while the Winchesters mounted.

Marie-Rose addressed them all. "You're damned fools, the lot of you."

That got a somber look from Sam, but an affable smile from Dean. He touched his cap to her.

She looked hard at each and every one of them. Sam awash with worry and courage, Buell looking forbidding, stolid O'Malley. And Tully, which made her take her breath sharp, but he was of an age not to be left behind, her shave-tail Page now a Knight. She wanted to extract promises, but held her tongue.

Dean gave her one anyway. "He's got money in this pot, too, Miss Rose. Sucks that he can't be a kid tonight, but… we'll keep him close." Tully was watching them.

She glared, but couldn't argue. "Come back to us in one piece, boys."

She was glad Buell concurred with her that they had nothing that needed saying beyond a mutual promise of words to come when the dust had settled. Buell turned his horse and set out. O'Malley followed. Tully, unsure of whether to grin or not, decided not and reined up a few yards off to wait on the Winchesters.

Dean mounted up. "So much for my night of pleasure awaiting. My life is cursed."

Sam pulled up a wan smile.

Dean finished strapping down the satchels on his horse. "Don't wait up for us, ma'am," he said. He sent a look at Sam. Sam met that look. They were ready.

"There's one thing we gotta get, Heyes!" Dean called out as he mounted.

"What?" Sam was baffled.

Dean's eyes glared, but his rest of him smiled.

"There's one thing we gotta get, Heyes!" he demanded.

Sam's expression went tart, but he dutifully asked, "What's that, Kid?"

"Outta this business!" Dean laughed and spurred his horse.

"Such a dork," Sam muttered darkly.

They wheeled their horses northerly, spurred hard directly toward a spear of lightning lancing down in the distance. The women stared after them till the rain drove them inside.


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Chapter Thirteen