TITLE: Braintree Wisdom
CHALLENGE: Every author has their favorite character. But, on occasion some of the less popular of the seven get left behind. Hence, I challenge you to write a fic featuring one of the seven that you do not normally write as the main character in your fiction. **insert cheesy background muzak** Think of it as a learning experience where you get to grow as a writer. Of course, if you want to add some fun and frivolity to it all, feel free to throw in a missing mummy, a vampiric baddie or a cadre of werewolves carting contraband! After all, it is Halloween!
UNIVERSE: OW
MAJOR CHARACTERS: JD and a mystery guest star
RATING: G
ARCHIVE: Yes
SPOILERS: None
NOTES:  I should tell you now that I am a history freak.  You've been warned.  While I was wracking my brain on an interesting way to do this (I am not a JD fan), this person's name just popped into my head, so I thought I'd give it a try.  They happen to be one of my heroes, so I hope I did them justice.  Hope yeah all like this.  Virginia is my own creation and Allison belongs to Jo Ann Walker who graciously let me borrow her(she never responded so I'm assuming its OK).  They only appear briefly but I thought I'd mention it anyway.  My thanks to Libby, my sweet beta.
AUTHOR: Lady Catherine Dunbar (Kelly)
EMAIL: kellyg49@hotmail.com

JD watched from the window of the jail, chin resting on his hand, as a small boy walked down the opposite boardwalk holding his mother's hand, a hint of jealousy in his eyes.  The young sheriff shook his head ruefully, turning away from the window.  This is ridiculous, he thought.  I'm nineteen for God's sake.  Nineteen year olds don't sit around wishing for their mas.  Yet for all his rationalizing he could not help the ache he felt in his chest. 

It was October and tomorrow was the first anniversary of his mother's death, and it hurt like hell.  He had not expected it to hurt this much.  Yeah, he knew he would miss her more than usual, but not like this.  It was like somebody had used him as target practice and they just kept shooting.  He had thought that time and the men he worked with would have kept the pain at bay, but he realized how wrong he was.  He sighed and kicked at the leg of the table gloomily.  I bet none of the guys ever get like this about their mas.

JD walked down the street, head down, shoulders slumped, kicking at the boards as he went. 

The day had been just plain miserable.  For some reason all the other guys had been in an extremely good mood that day, even Chris.  Buck had finally landed a date with a girl he had been after for two weeks and his smile had been so wide, it had almost blinded everyone in sight.  Josiah had finished the row of pews he had been working on for a month and at last had them exactly the way he wanted.  Nathan had spent the day with Rain.  Vin had finished the book Ezra had lent him, the first novel he had ever read cover to cover and had practically glowed with pride.  Chris had spent the day helping Allison and her sisters fix up their boardinghouse, and being around the fiery redhead always put a smile on his face.  Lastly Ezra had received two letters that morning, one from his mother saying she had to cancel her upcoming visit and one from Virginia telling him she would be back in a week.  The woman had been away for nearly a month handling loose ends in the state she was named for and even though Ezra had put on his mask, they all knew he had missed her terribly.  That knowledge, added with the fact that he did not have to deal with his mother, had produced a gambler that had practically glowed with excitement. 

JD kicked at another board as the look of relief that had appeared on Ez's face when he had read his mother's letter flashed through his mind.  How could anyone be happy that their mother was not coming to visit them?  I'd kill to see Ma again.  He kicked at another board in his frustration.  He sighed as he shoved his hands into his pockets.  JD knew Ezra was always slightly disappointed when his mother broke his promises, but he also knew the kind of stress Maude put on her son.  I guess I wouldn't look forward to seeing my ma either if she were like Maude.  Sometimes he forgot that not all mas were like his.

The kid sighed heavily again, the ache in his chest only growing.  Damn.  He just couldn't make it go away.  If it hurt now, what the hell would be like tomorrow?  At least Buck was busy so he was not trying to cheer him up.

JD turned stepped of the boardwalk and headed towards the livery.  He knew Ezra and Vin found comfort with their horses, and thought that perhaps stroking Toby would help to calm his nerves. 

So preoccupied was he with his thoughts that when he turned into the stables he ran face first into someone exiting the building. JD tumbled back in surprise, hearing a muffled "Ooooof" from in front of him.  When he had regained his footing he looked down in the waning light at the individual who had fallen awkwardly onto the ground.

It was a woman in her early forties, dressed in a simple but fine blue dress.  She had dark eyes and graying chocolate hair, which was pulled back in a bun.  The woman had an oval face with a long nose and had aged quite gracefully.  The only signs of age on her face  were light laugh lines around her eyes and mouth.  She was quite lovely and must have been absolutely stunning as a young woman.  But what struck JD the most was the kind wise look of the woman's face.  There was a softness there, as well as a hard edge that reminded him of his mother. 

JD just stared at her a moment before realizing what he had done, and snapped back to reality. 

"I'm so sorry ma'am," he said, cheeks flushing in embarrassment, as he hurried to help her up.  "Are you all right?" 

"It is quite all right young man," she said with a smile, her voice filled with a New England accent.  JD could not help but grin at the sound of her voice. 

"Are you from Boston ma'am?" he asked as he helped her to her feet.  The woman smiled and inclined her head gracefully. 

"Braintree actually, but I did live for a time in Boston." 

"My mother told me about Braintree.  She said it is beautiful there." 

"Ah that it is.  Are you from Boston young man?"  JD nodded enthusiastically, happy to talk to a fellow New Englander. 

"I grew up there."  He looked up and down, embarrassment coming back to his cheeks.  "You sure you're all right Mrs.….?" 

"Please call me Abigail."  She held out her hand and JD took it hesitantly, unused to shaking a woman's hand.  He was surprised by how firm her handshake was.

"JD Dunne."

"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Dunne," a mischievous smile crossed her face, "even if it was in a less than graceful manner."  JD cringed at the mention of their collision. 

"I really am sorry about that Miss Abigail."  He shrugged, blushing.  "I guess my mind was just elsewhere," he confessed.  Abigail watched him carefully, seeing the change in mood in the enthusiastic youth. 

"That is quite understandable Mr. Dunne."  She paused, watching him with the eyes of a mother.  "Perhaps you would like to talk to someone about it?  I know it always helped my husband to get his troubles off of his own shoulders." 

JD looked at the woman, wondering why she would want to listen to his problems or why he would want to confide in a stranger.  Yet for some reason he felt he could talk to this woman, that she would not judge him and that he could trust her.  She actually seemed concerned about him.  I guess it can't hurt to try. 

He nodded and the woman smiled gently.  She walked into the stables and pulled two empty crates up next to each near an empty stall.  Abigail sat on one and patted the other.

"Come and tell me what is troubling you young man." 

JD sat down on the crate and took a deep breath.  All of a sudden he wasn't so sure this was a good idea, but one look in her patient brown eyes calmed all his fears.  She reminded him so much of his mother that it hurt.  He took another deep breath, thinking it would be best to just say it.

"Tomorrow it'll be a year since my ma died."  He stared at the ground, slightly surprised that he had been able to admit it so openly.  "I just miss her so much," he admitted softly, not daring to look up.  She must think I'm a big baby, he thought.  Sulking about such a thing.

Yet when he looked up he saw only understanding and wisdom in those dark eyes. 

"That is perfectly understandable JD," she said softly. 

"But I'm nineteen!" he exclaimed, using his hands for emphasis.  "Only little kids are supposed to miss their mas this bad."  He hung his head and sighed.  "I'm sure the rest of the guys don't miss their mas like this." 

"On the contrary my dear young man, I am sure they feel their losses as much as you." 

He looked up at her, dark eyes searching her face.

"How do you know?"  A small smile appeared on her face.

"Call it female intuition."  The smile softened as her voice took on a matter-of-fact tone.  "Simply because a man does not display much emotion does not mean he feels none at all.  It has been my experience that often the gentlemen who show the least emotion are the ones who feel things deeper than anyone knows."

JD thought for a moment, staring at the ground.  "I guess you're right."  He thought about the others.  All of them, even Buck, were extremely private men.  They hardly ever talked about their personal lives or their private demons.  His mind then turned to Vin and Ezra, two men who kept their emotions hidden behind walls of silence and words. 

He sighed heavily as he leaned his elbows on his knees, head in hands.  "It's just that it hurts so damn much."

An arm wrapped around his shoulder and pulled him close, as if he were a little boy. 

"That is simply a sign of how much you loved her.  You may not believe me now but eventually the pain will dull.  It will never go away completely, nor should it, but it will fade."  She smiled and gave his shoulder a squeeze.  "As much as your mother would be pleased that you remember her with such fondness, I am sure that she would not want to see you abusing yourself in such a way.  I know I  would not want to see my sons in such pain."  She lowered her head so that she could whisper in his ear.  "Perhaps you could design a way to honor her every year."

He turned his head to look at her.

"Do you think that would work?" 

Her smile softened and her voice seemed faraway when she spoke.  "I know it will.  Every year I light a candle in honor of my little girl.  It is a way for me to remember her without plunging myself into a deep depression."  She smiled as she pushed a piece of black hair out of his face.  "I highly recommend it." 

JD could not help but smile at her, the first time he had smiled in a day.  "I'll give that try." 

Abigail smiled widely.  "Good.  I hate to see a young man with such a heavy heart.  Now, did talking about it help at all?" 

He bit his lip and looked away in thought for a moment, nodding his head.  The Kid looked at her, a smile of relief on his face.

"Yeah it did.  In fact I already know what I'm gonna do for her."  She gave his arm a squeeze and smiled genuinely. 

"Wonderful.  I am sure she will love it."  He blushed.

"Gosh I hope so.  I gotta go."  Abigail laughed as he jumped up and practically ran for the door.  Suddenly he stopped in his tracks and whirled around.

"Oh, thanks Miss. . . ."  But when he turned around she was gone.  "Miss Abigail?"  He stepped further into the stables and looked around, but the New Englander was nowhere to be found.  JD's brow crinkled in confusion, wondering how she had left so quickly. And I didn't even get to thank her.

Just when he was about to leave to go look for her he caught sight of something white lying beside the crates where they had been sitting.  He stepped closer and noticed that it was a handkerchief.  She must have dropped it.  JD reached down and picked it up, hoping her last name was embroidered on it so that he could find her at the hotel.  But the scalloped handkerchief was only embroidered with two cursive A's in blue thread.  Biting his lip JD stuffed the fabric into his pocket and hurried out of the stables.


JD spent the next hour looking for Miss Abigail, from the hotel to the boardinghouses, asking if anyone had checked in under the name Abigail A-something.  But there was no person checked in under that name anywhere in town.  Finally JD was forced to give up his search.  He knew it was unlikely she had left the town alone, but thought she had been traveling with a male relative, perhaps one of her sons. 

So he headed up to his room instead to start on his gift for his mother: a poem.  She had always liked poetry and even though he knew he was not any good at writing it, he knew Abigail would say that since it was from him his mother would love it anyway.  Even though he had only known her for less than an hour, he had to agree with the fellow New Englander.   

THE END