The rhythmic creaking of the chilled leather saddle nearly wooed me into a trance. The never-ending night of the 'Wild West' was so unlike the great cities of the East. New York and Boston and Chicago were so congested with the ebb and flow of humanity. Here one could be alone with one's thoughts and not be distracted with the lights that lit those great cosmopolitan hives where even the depths of Mother Night were busy with someone's comings and goings. I topped a rise and there in a bowl shaped depression laid the mining town of Three Corners. I looked up and an entire symphony of stars was out including a tiny sliver of a crescent moon. There were few lights to be seen at this hour and so I entered with no one to see me. I made straight for the tallest building in the town, the church, with its snow-white edifice and tall angled bell tower. There could be seen the flickering light of candles in plenty burning the night away and a shadow moved between the candles and the windows. I tied off my horse at the nearest hitching post to the church and made my way step by step to my destination. After a short walk I arrived at the bottom of the four steps that led up into that House of God. Patiently I waited staring at the two huge oaken doors emblazed with the symbols of the fallen and risen icon. I could see a shadow at the door now standing transfixed no doubt by trepidation and fear but who would harm a servant of God after all? I heard the door being unbarred and slowly the right door opened and the silhouette of a nun could now be seen.
"Poor thing you must be freezing!" came her voice so like music with her sing song accented English. Her accent was very faint and no one that hadn't traveled the Orient like I had would have missed it entirely.
"Yes I am cold." I said with little emotion as my hooded duster and heavy jeans protected me quite well against the winter chill.
"Would you like to come in?" she asked moving a bit more so I could see her beautiful Asian features.
"Yes I would sister." I said with equal monotony as before. I stood waiting patiently for the proper words to be pronounced.
"Please come in." She said with such innocence. She stepped back and away from the door to allow me ingress.
'Yesss!' I almost hissed in delight. I walked up the steps of the church smiling from ear to ear. "Thank you sister, your kindness means so much to me." As I entered the well lit church she gasped at the weapons around my waist. "Oh I am so sorry, it is a dangerous world outside your walls sister let me leave them at the threshold so you may fear nothing from me." She nodded vigorously and watched as I removed my gun belt and my sword keeping a long knife in the small of my back for future use. The sword with its jade hilt and silver crossguard transfixed her eyes. "Sometimes one runs out of bullets." I said. She closed and barred the door her gaze rarely leaving the sword.
"It is so beautiful!" She said and as I lowered the hood of my duster she gasped.
"Oh you poor thing you are bone white let me get you something to warm you!" She turned and disappeared into the depths of the church. While she was away I looked about the place at the stain glass windows depicting the fall of evil and the triumph of such goodness as the world has seen. The town must be doing well for it self to be able to afford such things for its church. On quiet footsteps she returned holding a large wooden cup steaming with some hot beverage. "Here you are drink up." Her smile was dazzling and her beauty even more than my first glance had allowed me.
"Your kindness is too much," pause for dramatic affect, "thank you." Again she smiled and watched as I sipped the beverage then took a healthy drink. "You have a lovely church here sister you must be very proud."
"Well our parishioners helped build this temple for the Almighty and much love went into its construction."
"That goes without argument." I cupped the wooden vessel in my hands watching her, as she seemed in turmoil over something. "Sister is something wrong?"
"May I see it?" She asked looking to the door. Now it was my time to smile.
"Of course you may but be careful it is very sharp." I watched her carefully and noted how she picked up the weapon and pulled it free from its sheath as I suspected she had handled a weapon before. There was no fumbling or sloppiness she turned it this way and that in the manner of a horse trader sizing up a mount to be bought. The bluish gleam of the metal interested her the most and she didn't hesitate to ask.
"I have never seen this kind of steel before," Her voice a dreamy sort of whisper.
"Not likely you would it is an old family recipe." I replied continuing to observe. She moved it through the air subtly as not to show she was skilled with the blade.
"It is light yet strong a most cunning family recipe indeed."
"For a bride of Christ you know your way around a sword." She never flinched in her response.
"I have not always been a nun," and once again she rewarded me with one of her beautiful smiles.
"We were always something else at some time." She nodded and sheathed the sword then returned it to its resting place on the wall. She turned to face the altar and began walking in that direction when I reached up under my duster and silently freed my knife and with perfect precision I cut the back of her habit from collar to the small of her back. Time seemed to slow as the material parted and the glorious rich colors of her tattoo came into view. She spun around her eyes narrowed in an expression that bordered on hate.
"How could you?" she spat at me as she tried to conceal the tattoo.
"Yes indeed you were definitely something else entirely. But nothing to be ashamed of my dear sister." I paused long enough for the words to register.
"What do you mean? You have seen a tattoo like mine before?" A rush of emotions crossed her lovely features shame, anger, and at the last a sense of relief.
"I am a well traveled man and have seen many wonders in my life. But to say that I have ever seen artwork of that caliber before, no I have not." She saw that I was telling the truth and faced her worst demon in a stranger who had wandered in from the road.
"Well traveler I was born into slavery by a father who was a drunk and a gambler and who lost one bet too many. Since he had no sons I simply had to do. My new family had me doing all the chores while they sat back and watched. One day while I was carrying water from the well a nobleman took notice of my appearance and followed me all the way back to that hovel I called a home. He purchased me from my family and like an animal he tied a rope around my neck and led me to his father's house. It was gorgeous and there were slaves aplenty so I had no idea at the time why he would desire me. I was bathed, cleaned and dressed in simple silks and brought before the family. It was like standing before starving buzzards to be honest. The Lady of the House was beautiful as fit her position and it was she that stood up and circled around me looking me over. She tore the silk from around me and I stood naked for her piercing glance. After some time she smiled and handed me my clothes back clapping in glee she returned to her seat and motioned for me to sit.
"Once again my son you have a keen eye for potential." She said. Then the Lady looked at me and simply said, "welcome to the family daughter."
