Judge Parker and his companions rode through the crowd, inspecting the state of affairs on the farm. They had been busy running the town of Santaquin to remain in office lately. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gertrude Collins walked into the city building and found things to be as quiet as they should be, except for a single person sitting in his office - Brad. "Good morning, Gertrude," he said, pointing to a seat and taking her hand, offering a cup of tea.
"Thanks, but do you have a pot of Joe? I never really cared for this English stuff," she said, removing her black-laced gloves and winking at him.
"One cup coming right up. Now then, how can I help you?" Brad asked as he poured her a cup and one for himself, a nice hot cup, as the receptionist closed the door.
"Well, Brad, I was wondering how I could help you. You put me in quite a spot, you old rascal, and left me high and dry. My grandson dressed as an Indian; that was a shock, I must say, Brad," she said as she took a sip and slowly licked her lips. Brad put his fingers together, ready to listen to her.
"Well, what can I say, Gertrude? You'd been stirring that pot for quite some time. We thought it was time to set a few things straight, but we didn't see things eye to eye," he replied.
"Brad, dear, I'm sorry. I really am, that's why I am here today. I want to make amends. Let's say," Gertrude said as she gazed about the room. Then, from the corners of her eyes, she saw an outline shape of a man in the right-hand corner as he nodded to her.
Brad feels a soft chill as he rubs his arms, cold pricks going up his spine. She whispers. "An IOU has now come due," as she pulls out a signed letter over and a deed of some property of a nearby creek and a jaunt to Downing farm. "I want you to give this to him to build more. He'll know what to do," she said, leaving him sitting there. "By the way, dear, you still owe me that dance," she said as she walked out the door.
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle," Brad said looking at the property of thousand acres of land and whistling, then buzzed for his secretary, taking pad and paper out of his desk, placing a note.
"Yes, judge," she said, coming to his office.
"I need you to get this notarized and signed, delivered yesterday with this note, and I'll, oh, heck, go fishing. That's where I've gone. Tell my wife; she'll know where to find me," he said.
"Yes, Judge," she said.
"Tell everyone else, I'm in a meeting. Then take the rest of the day off, heck," laughing, "take the rest of the week off," he said.
"Yes, Judge Parker."
As soon as he closed the door, he opened his closet, pulled off his suit, jumped into his overalls, headed for the door, and yelled. "Yee haw," as loud as he could out the door.
Everyone turns, gasping. "OH MY! People were asking. "Was that the Judge? Nah, it couldn't be. The note says," Swing from the door, "do not disturb, in a meeting." The Judge was on his way out the back door.
* * * *
With a cloud of dust riding down the street, hooves pounded the dirt road, dirt clouds flying through the air. A boy shouted for the Sheriff on the back of his horse. His knees were bent, and a leather bag was on his saddle like the Pony Express. Hell-bent on the Downing Farm with orders from the Judge. A deed and a request made, stamped urgent in red. The boy waved his bandanna to his granny, a special delivery for the Sheriff to let him in. After all, she knows better. It was her boy, Ned.
He rides right up to the gate and the steps with a slight limp where his toe is missing with a nice pair of boots from the Sheriff and the boys, which they bought and gave him. Ned handed him the leather case with a flap to be opened only by the Sheriff. "Thanks, Ned," Wayne said as he slapped him on the back. "Martha made some cookies, and Julie's in the back," he said as she giggled, but Anna had eyes for only Ned. Wayne dumps out the letter and ten more silver stars, five gold stars, an envelope, and a deed.
"Sheriff, I want you to find ten fine men for these silver stars, make them your new Deputies, and make your five Deputies captains in charge of these men. Build whatever you need with this deed of thousand acres of land. I'll be in at eight to dance at the festivities. You are giving the speech, yee haw."
Wayne drops the note and the pins and whispers. "Just great."
Richard walks in. "Sir, your horse is ready, sir, and I understand the men are dressed and ready down at the field as requested," he replied.
Wayne smiles, looking down at the table and at the pins. "It looks like you are out of uniform, son," he said.
"HUH?" Richard said in a surprised voice as he looked at Mr. Downing as if he had fallen out of a tree, and Wayne tossed him a gold star. "What?" Did he reply?
"You have just been promoted, son," Wayne said, showing him the letter and patting him on the back. Now go find Robert and give his to him."
"Yes, sir. What do I do with this one?" Richard asked. They both glanced at poor Ned, who was still standing in the room, and smiled.
Wayne and Richard nod, both slapping him on the back. "Congratulations, Ned," they said, leaving him standing there with Richard's badge and hat in his hand. The Sheriff hops on his horse and heads to the field, yelling. "Yee-haw."
Granny watches him go as Ned shows Granny his new hat and his new Deputy's badge. She does a jig and throws away the shotgun, which accidentally goes off and shoots her in the foot, just missing her big toe. Scaring the poor chickens and the roosters to death, thud. Richard and Robert laugh. "I guess it was loaded," Wayne said, looking back at Ned, pulling Granny's boot off, and checking her toes. Richard and Robert hop on their horses, headed for the field right after their Pa.
Ned and Granny watched them leave. Granny pushed Ned off the porch with her boot. "Git going, son. What waitin' fer? Ride, boy, ride."
"Yes, Granny," he replied. Granny picked up the gun and a shovel and buried the old shotgun with a tear in her eye. "That's my boy, dang nab it. Now I am going to have to hide my moonshine," she said.
Aunty M. comes out, hands her a jug, and says. "Take mine. We'll just find him a wife, that's all," and laughs. "Come inside."
Granny takes a swoller. "Ah, that's the stuff," does a jig, "a wife ye say," hum. "I's looking fer a husband me, self. Know of any?" She asked, smiling, showing all her teeth.
"Maybe, maybe," cocking her eye, looking at the shadows. "Maybe Granny will have to wait and see," she said.
EJ and Will are studying hard, and Lizzy is a schoolteacher. It was different, to say the least, considering most of the students or classmates were your brothers and sisters; of course, there were local children like Frank, Mark, Peter, Sam, Teddy, and others. There was a total of fifteen of us kids, a small group. We all got along most of the time, which was great. It was not that we didn't have our squabbles, but it was never over who you were or what we wore to class. No, it was what we didn't wear, and that was the problem.
The first problem was the majority of us as boys. It wasn't a big deal as we saw it, so it got to be in our favor when we voted. Some of the boys would come dressed as Indians, some come dressed as simple farmers, and the rest would come dressed in Kitenge. It didn't bother any of us except some girls because they felt left out; all they had to wear was these farm dresses. Sometimes, it would get too hot in the hayloft; we all had to go outside to play. The problem was that they could cool off and sit in wet clothes all day as we boys, you know, were already cooled and dry most of the day. So, Lizzy made rules and a dress code, which we felt was unfair, of course.
There was EJ; he couldn't have much to say about it. It all worked out in his favor since he was stuck wearing the Kitenge. The rest of them didn't like it, except a few. Let's say try it on and take it for a spin, and stay cool for the rest of the day. The second problem was, of course, you guessed it, shoes. Some had them, and some did not. Easy problem: Renee solved that problem and gave every boy and girl a pair of sandals when they went to school every day.
It was quite a sight when we went on field trips into town, all of us in Kitenges spinning around and around and around. Lizzy just smiled and waved as the people gawked at us as they passed us by. EJ hobbled beside as best he could with Will and Robert, helping as EJ went along. For some reason, EJ wasn't feeling very good as the days passed. But don't tell Ma. he'll be ok, and we don't need her to worry. They would all see the Museum of Natural History and study pioneers today.
"Cool cannon guns," Will said as Will stuck a hand in there and almost got it stuck.
"Hey, don't touch that," the museum lady said.
"Sorry. But."
"Now scoot," the museum lady said.
"Yes, ma'am, look at that. EJ, EJ. Lizzy? LIZZY!" Will said as he watched EJ fall to the ground. Lizzy turned and saw a group of children standing around someone on the floor.
Peter tugged on her skirt. "OH NO!" She runs over, clearing the children out of her way. "Julie, what happened?" Lizzy asked.
Julie shrugs, looking at his stitches. "They're all intact, Lizzy; he has a slight temperature. Other than that, I don't know, but he's barely breathing," as Will and Robert turn him over as if he were asleep.
Lizzy looked at his very pale face. "Julie, run, call Doc Hatfield to send a message. We need him quick." Lizzy paced the floor, trying not to panic. "Why here? Not now. We are miles from the farm."
Robert, knowing he's the one who had to take control of the situation, starts giving orders like Pa in the field. "Will, go find me a blanket and a pillow. Anna, help take these children outside and play till I come to find you. Lizzy," he said, pulling her down close to EJ, and putting his head in her lap. "Watch him and don't move." Will returns with a blanket and pillow from the nurse's station, places it under his head, and covers EJ, placing EJ's hand in Lizzy's. Will put a hand on his shoulder.
Julie returned, relaying that she had just sent off the message and saying. "They will be here sometime soon." She said started brushing his hair as Ma did.
Down in the fields, Sheriff and his boys planned on working for the day setting up Captains, placing pins, and breaking off into groups as they looked over the charts where Wayne had designated sites to build for housing barracks. Lodging is more suited than tents, as it will keep the rain and cold out during winter. Since he knows now, he is building a community of farmers, not driftwood. They plan on staying for the long haul whether he likes it or not, but in his case, he likes it, and then, as he laughs, slaps them all on the back.
Another rider came down from the farm, it was Granny, this time as she was riding hard and as fast as she could on horseback, yelling. "Sheriff, you are needed at the farm," jumping down from the horse and passing him the note. Pa's face nearly went white, then quakes at the knees. Wayne jumped on the horse heading for home. Granny passed the news to the boys and looked for Doc, but he was not in this group of men.
Richard can't leave; he paces as he looks around towards the house. Wayne's already gone. Will and Robert are with EJ—that's where they are supposed to be. It's up to him to lead this group of men. He stands and swallows hard. "Ned, I need a rider. I need one bad. Go find Doc Hatfield and bring him home quick, like you were burning daylight, son," he said.
Ned hops on his horse and heads for Downing Villa, searching for Doc all over the Villa, riding hard, flying fast, racing against the wind, and yelling. "Doc Hatfield, we need you at the farm." Turning left and then right, he swings his horse this way and that way, dogging people, and yells, "DOC!"
Finally coming out of the tents, Doc says. "What in the zippy tar cat's cradle, son, is the hurry?"
"You are needed back at the farm," Ned said, handing Granny's note.
Doc put his hands behind his head, rolled his eyes, and puffed air out of his mouth as his eyebrows twitched. "I thought we patched him good, too, here and to the moon, that kid," he said.
"Doc, not stitches; she says all intact, everyone," Ned said. Doc started to go in and grab his bag. "Sorry, Doc," Ned pulled him up by the seat of his pants, "Orders," pointing to the star. "Granny," as he rides, "has ya a spare, hang on, Doc," Ned said riding back down the line of tents and jumping over the ditch with Doc on horseback. "Yee haw," as Ned swings his hat over his head. The horse leaps the ditch bank. "Yee haw." Ned rode towards the farm with Doc, speeding down the road across the stream bed. Splashing water on Doc's face, he leaps again. "Hold on Doc, "as he rode, rounding another corner. Doc bouncing on the horse across his back. Ned is holding Doc tight by the seat of his pants as they leap across the trench.
Just ahead, he sees the Sheriff doing a hand-off with a horse and the pickup with one of the Deputies in the back, Martha in the front seat. Aunty M. driving, Martha yells. "Aunty M., don't you think we should stop," Instead Aunty M puts the pedal to the metal, and yells. "Hang on, boys, we're comen'," as Wayne jumped into the pickup and let the horse go. Martha gasped, clasping her hands to her chest, and seeing Wayne slide in beside her.
Wayne yelling. "Mind those ruts, Aunty M., we need to get there in one piece, you know. Stop sparing those horses; let's go." Martha looked back, seeing the horse caught by one of the boys headed back to the farm. Aunty M. and them passing Ned and the Doc up ahead, bouncing across the horse's back. Wayne yelled. "Good job, see ya when we get back, son; keep him there; we'll be back in a jiffy," he said.
Ned waved his hat and yelled. "Yee-haw."
Pulling up to the museum, Ma rushed in Pa right behind her, seeing EJ and Lizzy on the floor, Lizzy, and Julie in tears, telling them. "They don't know what's wrong, fine, one minute, then this," pointing to him on the floor. Ma again checks his stitches. "Not one out of place, no bleeding, he's warm, has a temperature not that high," as she wiped the sweat off his face. "I knew he looked peek' ed," she said, disgusted with herself, knowing something was amiss.
Robert told Pa the children were out playing to keep them occupied while they got him back to the farm. Pa picked him up and carried EJ back to the pickup. Aunty M. sends Julie, Will, and Robert back. Keeping the rest of the children with her to finish the tour until they can get back to the farm to kill time thought it was best. She would send Anna, too, but she needed her for Sam and Teddy. She agrees, kissing EJ on the cheek, and whispers in his ear how much she loves him.