Odd Billy Todd

by N. C. Reed

  “He says too that the Halsey place is in good shape for a family, and that the Crowder place is a fair starter place for someone with no kids.” With that Toby ran back to the table, leaving the other’s to stare at each other.

  “Okay, then,” Jerry nodded firmly. “Reckon you heard that. Now we need to start in talkin’ to these folk. Reckon we can at least handle that on our own?” he asked, chuckling.

  The others laughed at that, then started circulating among the new comers.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

  “Your name is Todd?” Cora Williams asked, frowning.

  “Yes ma’am,” Billy nodded. “Nice to meet you.”

  “The man who was terrorizing us was named Todd,” Harry March noted. “How do we know you aren’t kin to him?” he all but demanded. Billy looked at him, but said nothing.

  “Hey now,” Toby spoke up. “Ain’t no call for that. You need to remember who helped you, buddy.” Toby’s tone was almost truculent. He didn’t like where this was headed.

  “We have a right to know!” Bethany March didn’t quite screech. “We won’t go through that again!”

  “Hey, you need to calm down,” Toby ordered, coming to his feet.

  “What’s going on here?” Emma asked, seeing her son red faced and angry with the others. “Toby, where are your manners?”

  “Where are their manners?” Toby shot back. “They’re all but accusing Billy o’ bein’ in some kinda cahoots with that guy they was followin’.” Emma frowned, turning her gaze on the newcomers.

  “Is that true?” she asked icily.

  “He’s got the same last name,” Cora stated firmly. “We demand to know what relation he may be.”

  “I ain’t related to nobody,” Billy said quietly. His already bad mood wasn’t improving. “I got no family, nowhere, anymore, except Rhonda and the kids. And the folks around here,” he added, placing a hand on Toby’s shoulder to guide him back to his seat.

  “Whoever that fella is, was, he ain’t no kin o’ mine.”

  “And we’re just supposed to believe that?” Harry asked scornfully.

  “I don’t care what you believe,” Billy shrugged. “Ain’t no never mind to me.”

  “You can’t possibly expect us to stay here with him,” Cora informed Emma. “There’s no way we can trust him, not knowing for sure.”

  “I know for sure,” Emma told her firmly. “I’ve known him all his life. I knew his parents, and their parents. There’s no possible way for Billy to be related to the man who caused your problems.”

  “We don’t know that,” Bethany refused to budge.

  “Well, I guess that takes care of the problem o’ where to put’em,” Toby declared. “Reckon they can just move on.”

  “Toby,” Emma chided.

  “Why should we move on?” Harry demanded. “There’s plenty of room here for us! And food as well.”

  “Mister March,” Jerry spoke up, having moved up and listened to the exchange, “we aren’t a charity. Everything you’ve eaten today is the fruit of our labor. We are charitable people, but we can’t support so many mouths by ourselves. Everyone here works to support themselves.”

  “We’re willing to work,” March said. “I just don’t think we can trust him,” he pointed at Billy.

  “You trusted him this morning,” George decided to weigh in. He didn’t like the tone or attitude their visitors were taking.

  “What’s that mean?” Harry March demanded.

  “Who do you think shot the man who was about to kill you?” George asked Fred Williams. “Or the man threatening the rest of you?” he asked March. “Who offered his home as a place for you to clean up, be fed, and let us see to your needs?”

  “Billy Todd, that’s who,” he told them. “This man saved your life this morning, Fred,” he added. “No way we could have stopped him before he killed you. Not for Billy, you’re not here right now.”

  The group grew silent over that, thinking it over.

  “Bottom line is this,” George went on, noting that Billy was still eating quietly. “We were considering offering you a place here. If there’s a problem between you and one of us, especially Billy, then there’s no place for you here. Period. We’re willing to take the children who don’t have anyone to care for them, because we have a home for them already with children who’s parents perished in the plague or it’s aftermath. That’s up to you as their present caretakers.”

  “Think it over,” he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to us, one way or the other.” With that he walked away, leaving the small group to talk things over. Billy stood, and looked over at them.

  “You need to think fast. I don’t aim to extend much hospitality to folks that ain’t got even basic good manners. I want you off my farm ‘fore the day’s out. You can work where you go out with the others.” With that he stalked away, angry.

  Toby stood, collecting his own plate, and followed. Though not without one last glare at the people he’d help save just hours ago.

  “Well, congratulations,” Jerry told them sarcastically. “You’ve just offended the one person in this group who is almost impossible to offend. Not to mention the man who was first in line to help you folks.” With that he and Emma walked away as well.

  “Better have a word with the lil’un,” Jerry told her. “Billy ain’t like to be in a good mood for a while.”

  “I’ll just do that,” Emma nodded, wondering if Rhonda would be any less inclined to be angry at the insult levied at Billy.

  *****

  She wasn’t.

  “I want them off this farm, now!” she growled, eyes sparking with anger. “I don’t care where they go, but they aren’t staying here!”

  “Billy already told them they had to go by the end of the day, dear,” Emma soothed.

  “That ain’t good enough,” Rhonda didn’t quite yell. “I mean now! I will not have them on this property, eating our food, and then dare to accuse him of something so. . .so. . .aaahhhhh!” She did scream then, a primal sound that was scary enough to bring several of the men to investigate.

  “We’re fine, nothing to see here,” Emma assured them. “Move on, now. I’m sure you all have work to do.” Just then, Billy came out of the house, having cleaned up.

  “What’s with all that caterwaulin’?” he asked.

  “Rhonda was just. . .expressing her displeasure with our visitors opinion of you.”

  “Well, that’s okay,” Billy shrugged. “I ain’t all that happy, myself.”

  “I want them off. This. Farm!” Rhonda repeated, biting her words off angrily. “I will not have them sitting here, on our farm, putting you down!”

  “Easy, tiger,” Billy grinned. “I told’em to get gone by dark. Let’em get fed. Especially them kids. They ain’t said nothin’ ‘bout me,” he chuckled.

  “How can you be so calm about this?” Rhonda demanded.

  “I ain’t calm,” Billy assured her. “I’m mad as hell, you wanna know the truth. But I ain’t gonna punish them kids because they happened to fall in with a buncha ungrateful as. . . .”

  “Billy Todd!” Emma scolded laughingly. “That’s quite enough!”

  “Yes’m,” Billy nodded, grinning unrepentantly. “Anyway, give’em time to get cleaned up, and get fed. They might feel better after that.”

  “I don’t care how they feel, they are not staying here!” Rhonda fumed.

  “Wasn’t you givin’ me the evil eye earlier on account o’ you had decided I wasn’t gonna let’em stay here?”

  “That was different!” Rhonda shot back. “That was before they. . . .”

  “Bad mouthed me?” Billy asked.

  “Yes,” Rhonda hissed.

  “It’s okay, Rhonda,” Billy put an arm around her and drew her to him. “Let’em eat, and then they can get gone.”

  “Fine.”

  *****

  It was perhaps and hour later that a shame faced Harry March approached, his wife Bethany, and Cora Williams followin
g. Fred Williams stood back, arms crossed, a very determined look on his face.

  “Uh, Mister Todd?” Harry said haltingly. “I think we owe you an apology for earlier. We were just. . .well, that man has terrorized us for months. I can’t say that’s excuse for us to take it out on you, especially considering how good you’ve been to us today. We’re heartily sorry.”

  “We really are,” Cora added, and Bethany nodded her agreement. “I hope you can forgive us.”

  “Reckon I can,” Billy shrugged.

  “Not likely,” Rhonda hissed at the same time. They looked at each other.

  “Rhonda, they been through a rough patch. Reckon it ain’t right to hold a grudge,” Billy said easily.

  “There’s no excuse for what they did,” Rhonda insisted. “I want them off this farm, and I mean right now!” Billy studied her for a moment, then nodded.

  “Okay,” he agreed. He looked back to the three newcomers.

  “Reckon you folks better go,” he ordered. “I’m sure the others have made arrangements for ya. Better see what they are.” The three of them scuttled away, passing Fred Williams on the way. Billy looked at the other man, and Williams caught his eye, nodded in thanks, and then moved to follow his wife and the others.

  “Well, guess they’re goin’,” Billy said to Rhonda.

  “And not a moment too soon, neither!” Rhonda was still angry, and she didn’t plan on getting over it any time soon.

  “Rhonda, they’re leavin’,” Billy told her. “Let it go.”

  “When they’re gone, I’ll think about it,” she groused. “Let’s go see what they’re gonna do.”

  George was explaining their options when Billy and Rhonda walked up.

  “Like I said, the decisions are yours to make,” George was saying to the twins. “If you two want to take the children, and take up residence in the Clifton Home, Regina is in charge of the Home, and you’ll work for her.”

  The two sisters looked at each other, apparently communicating silently. Each nodded to the other as the same time, and both turned to George as if on command. It was a little creepy, Billy thought. Must be a twin thing, he decided.

  “We will go to the Clifton Home,” they announced as one.

  “Another set of twins,” Regina shook her head. “Welcome to Clifton House, then,” she smiled. “I think you’ll like it just fine. Let’s gather the children up, and get started. We’ll need to get them squared away and let them rest. It’s a good walk.”

  “I’ll carry you up there in the truck, Regina,” Rhonda volunteered. “Mary and I can see about clothes and such.”

  “We’ll help, too,” Emma said, looking at Shelly. Her daughter nodded at once.

  “Why don’t we go ahead and try to find them some clothes, and some personal items, and then we’ll head on up,” Rhonda decided. “I’ve got some stuff that might work in that trailer,” she pointed to one of the U-Haul trailers. “Let’s see what’s there.”

  Rhonda had gotten Mary and Danny to help her rework the things she and Billy had collected over the first months after the plague. She had wisely moved an assortment of clothes and personal items to this one trailer, to avoid allowing anyone to know just how much she and Billy had. At her wave, the women herded the newly arrived children in that direction. George watched them go, then turned back to the others.

  “Well, that leaves the rest of you. What do you want to do?”

  “We’d like to stay, if there’s a farm we can work,” Fred stated. “I don’t have any tools or. . .well, I don’t have anything but the clothes on my back,” he admitted. “But if you can loan me a few things, I can at least make a start.”

  “We can do that,” George assured him. “And there should be some tools left at the Crowder’s. You can take their place. It’s cleaned out, if you know what I mean, but you’ll have to clean it up good. What about you folks?” he turned to the March’s.

  “I. . .we don’t know,” Harry admitted. “We need another few minutes to talk it over.” George nodded, and the two withdrew. He looked at the last member of the party, a tall rangy looking man who’s features were pinched, and not a little suspicious looking. His name was Murphy.

  “Well, Murphy, what do you think?” George asked. He tried to be nice, but this man gave off a bad vibe to George. He didn’t like that.

  “Well, I ain’t no farmer,” Murphy admitted. “I don’t mind workin’, just don’t know how. I’ll try, but somebody’ll have to show me what I need to know.”

  The others thought about that. The truth was, no one wanted the man around, but he hadn’t done anything that rated being kicked out.

  “I could stay up at that orphanage you got,” Murphy smiled. “Help them out with stuff that’s heavy and what not. Long as they can show me what to do.”

  Billy’s hair tingled at that. Suddenly he knew what Murphy was. He realized why he didn’t like the look of the man. Murphy was a predator. With the other two gone, he thought he was free to roam, now.

  This presented a problem for Billy. He didn’t want Murphy anywhere near anyone in the valley. Period. But he also didn’t want to let Murphy go his way. No telling what the man might do to others he might come across.

  “The Clifton Farm is well looked after,” Jerry Silvers announced in a voice that said, he, too, recognized the man for what he was.

  “Just offering,” Murphy shrugged. “What else can I do?”

  “You sure you wanna stay on here?” Billy asked blandly. “Ain’t no law says you got to, I mean. You’re a free man. Go where ya like.”

  “Sure I do. Ya’ll got a good place here. I’d love to stay here with you.” Murphy grinned, and just then his eyes darted toward the collection of children and women at the trailer. Billy’s hand drifted toward his side of it’s own volition.

  “Well, reckon I know a place that’d suit ya,” he said easily. “Hafta drive ya up there. It’s not too far, and we can get ya a horse, tomorrow or so. It’s a small house, got two bedrooms, and a good well. Interested?”

  “Hate to be so far away, but other than that it sounds good,” Murphy nodded reluctantly, casting another furtive glance at the women and children.

  “Well, how ‘bout I carry ya up there, and let them settle the others. That sound okay?”

  “Sure, friend,” Murphy nodded, licking his lips in a nervous manner. “I sure appreciate it.”

  “No problem,” Billy smiled.

  “I’ll ride up there too,” Pete offered suddenly. Billy looked at his friend sharply, but Pete’s face was a mask of innocence.

  “Well, let me get you a bed roll, and you fix you up a couple meals, then, and we’ll head out,” Billy nodded. He started off toward the barn, while Murphy went eagerly to the table.

  “Wait a minute, Billy, I’ll help ya!” Pete called, and set off after his friend. Billy waited, reluctantly, until Pete had caught up.

  “What are you thinking, Billy?” Pete asked at once.

  “I’m thinkin’ I can carry him up there all by my lonesome,” Billy tried not to growl. Pete snorted.

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant what are you thinking about him,” he nodded back at Murphy. Billy gave Pete a long look, as if weighing what he should say. He seemed to come to a decision suddenly.

  “I’m thinkin’ we don’t need the likes o’ him around here,” Billy replied. “He smells. Makes me feel like I need a shower just talkin’ to him.”

  “Yeah, I thought that too,” Pete nodded. “If he ain’t a predator of some kind, I’ll eat my shoes.”

  “I don’t aim to let him stay here,” Billy declared openly. Pete looked at him.

  “Be a risk to just run him off,” he said evenly.

  “It would,” Billy nodded.

  “Folks might wonder where he got to,” Pete mused.

  “Might.”

  “Billy, I don’t know if I’m comfortable with this,” Pete admitted.

  “Didn’t ask you to come along,” Billy replied flatly. Pet
e was taken aback by that. And by the tone of Billy’s voice.

  “You’re sure this is what you want to do?” Pete asked, uneasy.

  “I don’t want to, no,” Billy admitted. “But he’s a risk I don’t aim to take. Period. You ain’t got to go. Just act like you changed your mind. No problem. And keep your mouth shut.” Pete looked at his friend as if seeing him for the first time.

  “Billy. . . .”

  “It’s your choice,” Billy cut Pete off. “You want to go, you can. You want to stay, that’s fine. But he’s not gonna stay here. Come tomorrow he won’t be anywhere he can hurt anybody.”

  “We don’t know for sure he will hurt anybody,” Pete pointed out.

  “I know what he is,” Billy said stubbornly, “and so do you.”

  “Let’s ask Fred about him, before we make a decision,” Pete temporized.

  “I already made my decision,” Billy shook his head. “You want to go talk to Fred, you go right ahead. I got stuff to do.” With that Billy turned and headed toward the barn. Pete watched him go, dumbfounded.

  This is not good, he thought to himself. I better talk to Fred pretty quick.

  *****

  “Well, there was always talk, you know,” Fred said quietly, looking at Murphy. “But as far as I know, that’s all it was. Talk.”

  “But you don’t like him,” Pete pressed.

  “I never have,” Fred admitted. “He pays too much attention to things he shouldn’t, if you know what I mean.”

  “Why did you bring him with you?” Pete asked.

  “Wasn’t my decision,” Fred shrugged. “Todd took a liking to him, and brought him along. No one could stop him.”

  “What was he like while you were on the road?”

  “He was always looking at the Beal sisters like he was hungry, and they was lunch.”

  “He never tried anything with them?”

  “No, Todd wouldn’t allow anything like that,” Fred admitted grudgingly. “He was a son-of-a-bitch, but he wasn’t like that at all. He would probably have killed Murphy if he’d tried anything.”

  “Did he pay any attention to your wife, or Mrs March?” Pete asked. He had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. The Beal sisters couldn’t have been much older than sixteen, and Murphy was well into his forties.