Freedom’s Cry Disclaimer- Belongs to Joss, just borrowing them for entertainment purposes. Rae, Beth, etc belong to us. Note- The wait was completely my fault, I started a new degree at a new university and I’ve kind of been distracted. Be nice to your teachers, people! They work way too hard! Translations: yu ben de- stupid Hwoon dahn!- Son of a bitch! Swai- handsome xxx

Chapter 4

Inara peered into the shadowed interior of the huge barn that dominated the yard. “Mal?”

Kaylee leaned around Inara, poking her head over Inara’s shoulder. “Cap’n? Are ya here?” Kaylee turned to her friend. “Didn’t his step-pa say he’d be in here?”

Inara gracefully lifted a shoulder. “He said that he saw Mal come in here a short while ago. How did he move so fast? And he called me fast like a freak.”

Kaylee shrugged. “Guess he just has a habit of gettin’ lost. Or losin’ people… Oh I didn’t mean-“ Kaylee blushed furiously.

Inara smiled gently. “I know what you mean, Kaylee. And I’m guessing that he’s trying to worm out of his promise to show us around his home.”

“Don’t seem real comfortable, does he?” Without waiting for an answer, Kaylee looked around the spacious barn, her eyes lighting up. She stepped away from Inara and moved cautiously into the barn. “Look at the kitties!”

Several tiny kittens, so small that one could have nestled comfortably in the palm of Kaylee’s hand, meowed at the sounds of humans. Big black eyes were blinked lazily.

Carefully, Kaylee scooped up a ginger striped kitten with white feet. “It looks like he’s wearing little socks,” Kaylee cooed.

Inara scratched the kitten’s head with one nail. “He is pretty cute,” she admitted.

“There’s whole heap of them.”

Inara knelt down, her luxurious robes brushing against the hay-strewn ground. One kitten, completely black but for a white spot on it’s nose, walked straight into Inara’s hand. Smiling gently, she picked it up and held it close to her chest. The kitten purred and nuzzled at her fingers.

“Hello, little one.”

“Hey,” Kaylee said, “maybe the Cap’n would let us keep ‘em!”

“Not on your life.”

Inara spun guilty, her cheeks flaming as she imagined the smirk on Mal’s face. “Mal! We were just looking for you.”

Mal quietly raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the contented kitten that had curled up against Inara’s chest. “Been looking in the wrong places then. Last time I checked I was neither little nor a cat.”

Inara’s fingers tightened, the kitten mewing its displeasure at the sudden rough treatment. Immediately Inara loosened her grip and ran a gentle hand along the kitten’s back. She glared at Mal.

“Little cats. Eat, sleep, play and eat. Brothers and sisters. Mother too. Warmth.” River trod slowly, but confidently, around Mal. She ignored the confused looks she was receiving from the Captain. She leant down and scooped a kitten up. “I’ll call this one Midnight,” she declared.

“Darlin’, we can’t be keepin’ ‘em on a spaceship.”

River smiled at Mal. “Doesn’t matter. Names are important. Everything has to have a name. Has to be categorized.”

Mal quirked an eyebrow. “If you say so. Now, what were you and Kaylee lookin’ for me for?”

“Your-“ Inara stopped, staring past Mal and into one of the barn stalls. Strips of meat were hanging down from hooks. She paled slightly. “What’s that?”

“Huh?” Mal turned to see what Inara was pointing at. “Oh, that there’s Blue Belly.”

“As in Blue Belly stew?” Inara asked.

“Well, yeah. Course it ain’t been cooked yet.”

“And I ate it?” Kaylee asked faintly.

“We live on processed protein, Kaylee, a little fermented bull belly stewed in apple cider and moonshine vinegar ain’t nothin’ in comparison. ‘Specially when it’s cooked like my Ma does it. And don’t think I didn’t notice the second helpings you two had.”

“But why hang it in the barn?”

Mal scratched his head. “Ain’t rightly sure, that’s just the way it’s always been. Ma set up this stall for the bull belly. Made it tastier or some such.”

“Your mother was right,” River told Mal. “Simon wouldn’t have wanted to know.”

“Your promise!” Kaylee blushed. “That’s why we came lookin’ for ya. You said that you’d to show us ‘round the ranch fore it gets dark.”

“Yeah, well-”

“I wouldn’t,” River told him.

“But-“

“You’re not too old to be spanked.”

Mal glared at her. “Stop readin’ my Ma. It ain’t good for you.” Mal quickly changed gears. “But since you’re lookin’ forward to it and you’re so damn determined. Guess we may as well start in here. You’ve seen where we hang the bull belly.”

Mal lead them around to the occupied stalls. “Most of the horses are out with the hands.” Mal stopped in front of a large solid chestnut coloured stallion. “But not this one here.”

The horse shied away from them.

“This here's Jupiter. M'favourite horse. Loved him like nothin' else.” Mal pulled a carrot out of a nearby basket and leaned over the stall door, offering the treat to the horse.

River titled her head, her fingers idly running over her kitten. “He resents you. You left him. He doesn't like you anymore.”

“Sure he does,” Mal assured. The horse snorted and tossed it’s head, but didn’t move any closer to Mal. Mal cleared his throat. “Well, times change.”

“Horses don't. Can't. You have.” River took the carrot from Mal’s hand and held it out to the horse, clicking her tongue.

“Won’t work,” Mal told her smugly. “Jupiter don’t like strangers…”

“You don't know what he likes. You're a stranger to him now. I'll make things right for you. I'll be your keeper.” River told Mal.

“I ain't a stranger to my own gorram horse. And what makes you my keeper?”

River smiled to herself. “Just like Simon. So much looking after.”

“Did I get drunk and sign somethin'?” Mal mumbled to himself, running a hand through his hair.

Jupiter stepped forward and sniffed cautiously at the carrot before taking it.

River looked over her shoulder at Mal and smirked. Kaylee pushed past Mal and hesitantly started to pat Jupiter.

Mal crossed his arms and scowled.

Inara grinned at him. “She simply said the horse doesn't like you. She didn't dent your pride, did she?”

“What? No! Just a stupid horse. Girl's more'n half crazy on a good day. What does she know?”

“You really loved the horse?”

Mal shrugged. “Yeah. Guess she hit a nerve.”

“But she's still crazy?” Inara asked, still grinning.

“Oh, more than a sack o' jumpin' ants.”

xxxxx

“River!”

Simon padded silently into the barn. “River, are you in here?”

A petite girl walked into the barn and stopped suddenly. She looked Simon up and down, pausing midway before continuing.

Simon sighed. River obviously wasn’t here. Simon turned to leave and started. “Oh! Uh, hello.”

The girl looked him up and down again. “Hi.”

Simon stepped forward and held his hand out to her. “I’m Simon.”

She looked down at Simon’s hand and back at his face. “I’m Beth. You're new.”

Simon dropped his hand awkwardly. “Yes, I am.”

“Single?”

Simon flushed lightly and cleared his throat. “Uh, yes?”

Beth brightened. “Wanna have a tumble?”

“A what?”

“A roll in the hay.”

“With who?” Simon choked.

“Me, silly.”

He fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don't think that'd be proper... besides I'm looking for my sister.”

Beth furrowed her brow. “You sly?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“You ain’t sly. Didn’t think so.” Beth sidled up to Simon and circled him. “You're sure prettier than the men folk 'round here. You must wash a lot.”

“Once a day, actually.” Simon batted as Beth trailed her fingers over his neck.

“You gonna be kissin' me soon?” Beth leaned in close to Simon, defiantly invading his personal bubble.

Simon choked. “Kissing you? We just met...”

“'Sides, he's mine.” Kaylee put her hands on her hips and scowled meanly at Beth.

“You hers?” Beth looked between Kaylee and Simon.

“I believe so...” Simon cut himself off as Kaylee glared at him. “I mean, yes. Of course. Absolutely. Completely hers.”

“You wanna wrestle for 'im?” Beth asked Kaylee.

“Ain’t nobody wrestlin’ here.”

Beth spun around, a wide grin lighting up her pretty face. “Mal! You’re back! Ma said you was comin’.” Beth threw her arms around Mal exuberantly.

Mal smiled reluctantly. “Just got here this morn. And here you are buggin’ my crew already.”

Beth looked back at Simon and Kaylee, who had moved to stand protectively beside the doctor. “Didn’t know he was one o’ yours, Mal. He don’t look like the mercenary type. ”

“He’s our medic.” Mal watched as Simon mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to Kaylee, missing the sudden fall in her expression, boy obviously didn’t think she was true in declarations. Gorram doc had better open his eyes soon before he missed his opportunity.

“I was looking for River. Your mother that you should have been back already,” Simon explained.

“It’s a big ranch, Doc. Your sis is back at the house with Inara.”

“We’ll be headin’ back then, Cap’n.” Kaylee glared at Beth, tugging on Simon’s hand.

Beth watched the two leave with a sigh. “That doctor o' yours is awful cute, big brother.”

“I ain't your brother, Beth. And it’s just as well. You just keep your claws outta the doc. He ain't ever been 'round women folk like you afore.”

“So?” Beth asked coyly.

Mal grumbled to himself. “So... he's a city boy. He ain't used to the way things are done in these parts is all.”

“He sly?” Beth frowned. “I thought he said he wasn’t sly.”

“I ain't 'xactly sure yet,” Mal confessed.

“I can find out...” Beth offered with a saucy grin.

“No you can't. Leave the good doctor alone. He can't handle your feminine wiles. Or the beatin' Joey and Sy'd hand him if they got wind of it.” Mal crossed his arms and stared down at his stepsister intently. “Don’t go getting my crew in trouble.”

Beth batted her eyelashes innocently. “Now would I do that?”

Mal raised an eyebrow. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

xxxxx

Beth swung her arms cheerfully. “So, you meet lot of these Alliance soldiers, big brother?”

Mal raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sun, looking to see if there was anyone to save him. “Ain’t ever looked to meet ‘em socially, Beth. But, yeah, I meet some.”

“They’s normal, ain’t they? Got all their arms and legs? Two eyes? Gots all their parts?”

Mal stood stock-still. “Oh no, you ain’t. Beth! Tell me that ain’t the reason you’re involved in this yu ben de rebellion scheme.”

Beth shrugged. “Ain’t the only reason.”

“Hwoon dahn!”

“Mal?” Inara stepped out from behind a tree, her brow furrowed. Cursing wasn’t something that Inara was unfamiliar with, but when Mal swore you could be sure that things were truly about to hit the fan.

“’Nara. What are you doing out here?”

Inara folded her hands together. “I was just… admiring the view. The… cows… And the fields…”

Beth looked between Inara and Mal, a smug smirk crossing her lips. “I think I might just go on inside. See how that swai doctor is doing.”

Mal fixed her with a glare. “I done tole you-“

Beth rolled her eyes and waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah.” With that she tossed her hair and sauntered away.

Mal shook his head. “That girl.”

“She’s very pretty,” Inara offered.

“She cornered the good doctor in the barn. Don’t wanna think what woulda happened to him iffin’ Kaylee hadn’t interrupted.” Mal shuddered.

Inara grinned at him and shook her head.

“Actually, I’m real glad you’re here.”

“Really?” Inara asked, her eyebrow raised.

Mal scratched his head. “Uh, 'Nara, haps it would be best iffn you don't mention your a companion. Ma has some real strong views.”

Inara threw up her hands. “And now it all makes sense.”

“Oh, Ma won't mind ya being independent in ya life but she don't stand by people selling their bodies, no matter the fancy title.”

“So what am I supposed to do what? Pretend I'm the cook?” She asked heatedly.

“We already done tole her you were an Ambassador. Just keep with that and it'll all be shiny.”

Inara grabbed Mal’s arm as he went to walk back to the house. “That isn't all of it, is it? What’s wrong?”

Mal shifted uncomfortably. “Joey and Sy.”

“Your step brothers?”

“Sy ain't the gentle type.”

Inara huffed irritably. “I can handle myself, Mal.”

Mal jerked his head sharply. “Not against Sy and you shouldn't have to.”

“Mal-“

“'Nara, please,” Mal lowered his head. “He comes near you in a way you don't feel is proper, I'm gonna make him wish the Alliance was torturin' him.”

Inara gasped. “Mal! He's your brother.”

“No he ain't!” Mal protested. “And I don't care. I ain't letting you get hurt again.” Gently, Mal traced a finger over her lip, in the exact spot where Early had struck her.

Inara looked up at him through her eyelashes. “That wasn’t your fault,” she mumbled against his finger.

Inara cradled his hand in hers. “I can’t believe that a woman like your mother would just allow Sy to be all-“

“Oh, he ain’t violent with women, not that I remember. He’s just… Think Jayne, threefold.”

xxxxx

“Oh my god, Rae, if I wasn’t already married…” Wash grinned, his mouth full of food.

“You wouldn’t be propositioning my mother now, would you, Wash?” Mal held the door open for Inara.

Wash reached for a food-laden platter. “She made fresh bao. I haven’t had bao since Saff-“

Wash suddenly cut himself off, feeling his wife’s glare bore into him on one side and Mal’s on the other. Wash turned to Zoë and smiled weakly. “Have I told you lately that I love my wife? My can-break-a-human’s-spine-with-her-pinky wife.”

“Nice save, honey.”

“It’s nice to see a man with a healthy appetite,” Rae commented, bustling around her kitchen.

Mal looked around. “Where’s Jayne?”

“Oh, Beth wanted to show him something.”

Mal groaned. “She did not. That girl is more trouble than her brothers combined.”

Rae stopped. “Speaking of, have you seen the boys? They was supposed to be back from town by now.”

“Ain’t seen hide nor hair, thankfully.”

Rae shrugged and returned her attention to the stovetop. “They’ll be home soon enough, I expected.”

The house shuddered as a loud crash emanated from the yard.

Rae didn't even look up from her pan, but a smile twitched her lips. "Boys are home."

xxx

End chapter