Flower of My Heart
1894
It took Caine the better part of a day to travel to where the natives showed him where the wagon had gone. The two braves that had traveled with him only went as far as the edge of their territory. They knew the price they would pay if they were caught off the reservation. As Caine was leaving, one of the braves stopped him briefly with a light touch and handed him a feather decorated with ribbons.
"If you require our help, give this to the school teacher. She will know how to contact us."
Caine took the feather and bowed, giving them the Shaolin, fist to open hand greeting of respect. "Thank you," was all he said, and he continued on his way.
When Caine arrived on the outskirts of the town, the sun was almost below the horizon. He knew he would not have any luck locating Lillian that night. His best option for the moment was to find a place to stay and wait until morning. Pondering on what the Indians had said to him, Caine decided to find the schoolteacher and ask for aid. He was reluctant to go to the Sheriff for obvious reasons. Even though he had not ran into any bounty hunters so far, Caine was still being hunted. The chances of the Sheriff knowing about him in a town of this size was much greater than out in more remote territories. He would have to watch his step and not bring attention to himself. Caine recalled the many times he had helped others only to be mistaken for the one who had broken the laws of this country. It had been 15 years since his arrival to this land, and still the lessons from the temple and his long dead Masters Po and Kan would enter when they were most needed.
***
Young Caine: Master, must I always serve the law?
Master Kan: Hear the law; serve justice.
Young Caine: I have seen a law broken . . . Do I serve justice if I let it go unpunished?
Master Kan: What is the purpose of the law?
Young Caine: (thinking about it) Discipline.
Master Kan: And who is served by this discipline?
Young Caine: (still troubled) Each one who obeys the law.
Master Kan: Then to break that law denies justice only to one's self.
Young Caine: It is the same with all laws? If I break them, do I deny justice only to myself?
Master Kan: What is the purpose of the law?
***
_Caine recalled, even as a boy, how that final question still confused him. but was later to learn that the law could be made to serve justice as well as to have the purpose of discipline. Perhaps it would be best to seek out the Sheriff after all. By letting the Sheriff know of his purpose here, there could be less trouble later. After all, had not Lillian been kidnapped? Was that not also a crime?
Caine headed down the main street passing the saloon. A man stood in the shadows with another speaking in whispers. As Caine walked by, the man grew silent. He watched as Caine entered the Sheriff's office then quickly ran down the street to another building two doors down and disappeared inside.
Caine entered the Sheriff's office and found the man with his feet up on his desk and his hat pulled down over his face. Another man lay on a cot off to the side and rose as Caine entered.
"Well, I've seen everything. A Chinaman coming in here. What is you want Chinaman?"
"I have come to speak to the Sheriff. It is very important." Caine kept his eyes on the man lounging behind the desk while the other man approached.
"Can't you see he's busy? Now go back to wherever you came from and leave him in peace."
"It is vital that I speak to him. A woman's life is at stake."
The Sheriff pulled his hat away from his face and sat up straighter.
"I'm listening, Mister."
"Come on Wade, you can't honestly believe what this Chinaman is saying?"
"I'm here to help anyone who needs me," Sheriff Wade turned toward the man by the cot. "And so are you Dundee, or doesn't that badge mean anything to you? I can always get another deputy."
Deputy Dundee closed his mouth with a snap.
"Now, let's start at the beginning. Who are you and whose life is in danger?"
End of Part 15
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2000.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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