Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:42:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Collins <joecollins7420@yahoo.com>
Subject: On the Move West  Chapter 3

If this story is prohibited in your area, you are underage or gay sex
offends you, then please leave! If you are looking for hard core sex, you
won't find it here. However, there is some sex and reference to sex. The
story plot and characters are fictional and any resemblance is just
coincidental. Please feel free to email me and be sure to include the title
in the subject line.

J

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On the Move West

Chapter 3

After two days, the group decided to head for the fort. All of the injured
were able to move around and in addition to being sore, black and blue, all
were expected to make a complete recovery.

Joseph asked if he could drive Betty's wagon since she was now without a
driver. Father Mathew would drive his own wagon. Larry was able to drive
the wagon for his family.

However, the girls wanted to ride with David and Stanley. As they put it,
they just wanted keep the boys company so that they wouldn't fall asleep
and hit a rock breaking a wheel or something worse. As every one knows,
boys and girls of the same age will find a way to get together. Joshua used
the same argument to ride with me.

The other five Indian men were put in charge of the extra horses and
livestock. Robert got the job of driving the small band of sheep and
goats. Of course, he had lots of help from the younger children and a good
dog.

The train of ten wagons was on it way to the fort. Joshua told me that it
would be a two day drive, three at the very most. We made good time and
would have made it to the fort at the end of the second day but I decided
to make camp just a short distance from the fort and go in early in the
morning.

Camp had just been set up and about 20 Indian men, women and children came
up to the camp. "Don't be alarmed!" said Adam. These are our people. They
come in friendship and you might say they are the welcoming home
committee. We have been gone for 3 years and this is our first trip back."

"Don't just sit there, invite them in and ask them to stay and eat with
us." said Judy. "We can add just a little more water to the pot and then we
will have enough soup for everyone. Well, maybe just flavored, colored
water," She said laughing.

Adam and Luke ran to the group of visitors and start hugging the women and
little children. It was plain to see that they were glad to be home and
were welcomed. Adam came back and said, "They will be happy to stay. Judy,
forget about adding extra water. They brought enough food for everyone. So
you women will not even have to cook".

"We will jus pool our resources and we can have a feast," replied Judy.

The next morning after breakfast and the with the completion of the morning
chores, the small train continued on to the fort. I had them form a tight
circle just outside. All the animals were put inside the circle and the
horses were hobbled and left on the outside. We went inside and were met by
the commanding officer who welcomed us to the fort. The commanding officer
asked who was in charge and invited me to his office to talk.

The others were going to visit the trading post to pick up any supplies
that they needed. The children were each given a peppermint stick and went
outside and sat on the steps to wait for the adults to finish shopping. The
children could not have been happier. Life is good and couldn't be better
when you have a peppermint stick to lick.

"You are traveling with a very small wagon train. This is highly
unusual. Is there a reason that you are not with a larger outfit.?" The
commander asked.

I told the story of how we happened to be so small and didn't leave out any
of the details. I told how the renegades had been killed and where they
were buried. "One of men, before he died, said that the three men who had
hung a young Negro man had been captured and were being held here at the
fort until they went to trial. Is that correct?"

"Yes, the trial will actually be tomorrow at 10:00 am. Would the people who
were brutalized be willing to testify in Court? I certainly hope so,
because we really don't have much evidence against the three killers?"

"I can't speak for them but I will ask and see. I am sure that they
will. In fact, I see them coming out of the trading post now. Let's go and
talk with them."

"The trial for the three men who hung Betty's husband is scheduled for
tomorrow. The Commander would like to know if all of you would be willing
to testify in court," I said. All of them gave a definite
`yes'. "Commander, two of the Indians went to their village last
night. Will you need their testimony. The brother to one of the boys is
still here. He saw the whole thing and speaks English."

"I bet his name is Joshua. His testimony would be great. Having a person of
color testify in court is highly unusual but times are changing. I know
Joshua very well and he is to be trusted completely. He spends a lot of
time here at the fort visiting. In fact, all of his people are welcomed
here and come often to trade. Joshua is a great interpreter. The trial is
to start at 10:00 am. I would advise leaving the children in camp. A murder
trial is no place for children. I will have a couple of the women come out
and watch the children while their parents are in court. If you would
excuse me, I will see you in the morning," said the Commander.

The next morning the people of the wagon train were up early and were
displaying a lot of nervous activity. Betty and several other couldn't eat
any breakfast. Several were just milling about without any real
purpose. Father Matthew went to the spring and found a log and just sat
there staring off into the wild blue.

I couldn't take it any longer and called everyone together for a group
meeting to calm them before they went into the courtroom. "First of all, I
want you all to bow your heads and let us have a minute of silence. Say a
silent prayer, look ahead into the future. Just don't think back. Think
happy thoughts and just be thankful that you are alive."

After a couple of minutes, I broke the silence. "Standup and shake all the
doubts and troubles out. I really mean shake your whole body and don't hold
back." The kids really got into the shaking part and looked like little
puppets on strings. This caused the adults to laugh a little. "Let go of
all your troubles and worries, just throw them into the wind. Now, hug the
nearest person on you right. Now, hug the one on your left. Now doesn't
that feel good. Just remember that you are not alone. We are all in this
together. Come what may. Remember that we are not going in the courtroom
seeking revenge. We just want to make sure those men be held responsible
for their actions. Also, remember that there is a chance that they be found
not guilty. Your job is to tell your stories with nothing but truth. Just
stick to the facts. Let the judge and jury decide the case. Don`t try to
solve it yourself. Just remember, we are all standing alongside you and
with you."

A soldier came out from the fort and told us it was time for the trial to
start. I took Betty by the hand and Joseph took her other one. We lead the
group into the courtroom.

Joshua was the first witness called. His testimony set the stage for the
rest of witnesses. He was actually the only eye-witness other than the
victims. One by one, the witnesses were called and each told their own
story. Several broke down and cried, gained their composure and continued.

The jury left the room and were gone for a few minutes and returned with a
guilty verdict. The judge pronounced sentence-death by hanging, which would
take place at sunrise the following day.

The judge was getting ready to close court and asked if anyone had anything
they wanted to say to the guilty offenders. No one spoke up. I stood up,
"Your honor, I am not one of the victims. I was in the party that found
these people and offered aid and treatment to them. Since then, I have
formed strong emotional ties with all of them. Betty, as you know lost her
husband , hanged by these three men. The other renegades met justice and
were all killed when they returned to finish the job they had started. She
has two small children." I paused and looked directly at Betty, who was
sobbing. Joseph had her in his arms giving her comfort. The courtroom
became very quite.

"Your honor, I know that she has absolutely no money and no way to get
any. Her provisions are getting very low. Would it be possible for her to
go to the convicted killers homes and get any food that may be there along
with anything of value which she could sell, thus she could survive for a
short time until other arrangements can be made."

"Your honor, before you speak, May I have a short say?" Ernie Johnson, one
of the convicted men, said.

"I must say that anything you say will have no bearing on your hanging."

"I know. Thank you! I am the leader of the band who has been hitting farms
in this area. So far we have done nothing but harass the farmers. The two
men with me are the last of my gang. I own the farm and they were just
staying there. I have no living family or heirs of any kind. I would like
to have a will drawn up naming Jim as the sole heir and every thing will
become his upon my death which will happen at sunrise. I want everything
that I own to go to him. I have 160 acres of farmland and it has already
been planted and the crops are coming up. On the farm is a new 3 bedroom
house and outbuildings. There is an old sow with a new litter of piglets
and also a boar. I have 3 milk cows with new calves. There are 11 beef cows
with calves along with a young bull. I have no idea how many chickens,
turkeys, and geese are on the place and several already have new broods of
babies. The farm is well stocked with equipment and tools and work
animals. I know that Betty can`t inherit my property. That is why, I am
leaving it to Jim. He can do with it as he sees fit, like give it all to
Betty!"

"I have only one request to make, your Honor."

"What is you request? I'll determine if I can grant it," said the judge.

I don't want any of those who testified today or any of their friends to be
at the hanging. I know that I will be yelling and screaming and fighting
all the way. I don't want to cause them anymore stress. They have suffered
enough!"

"I can grant your last wish. The clerk has informed me that you will has
now been written. All that is needed is your signature."

"Have clerk bring it to me and I will sign it now. All these people can be
my witnesses."

"Is there anyone that can take us to your property?" .

"Yes, the Indian man sitting next to you has been to the place on several
occasions. He knows the way. There is another thing that I didn't want in
the record, but when you get to the house, Go out the back door and take
exactly 20 paces due east and then dig. That is all I am going to say. No
one needs to know what you will find."

"Any more business to come before this court? If not I will declare it
closed." said the judge rapping his gavel.

TBC

joecollins7420@yahoo.com