The Granite Heart (An Ozark Mountain Series Book 2)

by Alan Black

  Susanne said, “Only God knows who they will harm next.”

  LillieBeth said, “Trance and Dangle attacked and hurt the Hazkits. They killed Mr. Hoffman for doing nothing more than protecting me. You know my father, sir. If he was able right now, would he allow those two to continue walking the face of God’s good earth?”

  James shook his head. “No. Your father would charge across hell itself to protect his friends and family. I have seen him do that very thing in France and prayed for him every step of the way.”

  Susanne said, “Then pray for us, Reverend James.”

  James said, “You can’t go after them. You are young women and one not much past being a girl.”

  Susanne sighed. “She is her father’s daughter and will not be denied. I would not let my friend LillieBeth go after them alone. I have nothing left to lose but the love and friendship of the Hazkits and Grace Grissom. The rest is gone from me.”

  She knew the rest of her long list of losses from memory. The list in her head had been written on her eyelids to be reviewed time and time again. She would never know a good man for a husband, if not David James, there would be no other man; no home of her own, no more classes of eager children to teach, and no place among descent Christian folks.

  David James said, “You have me as a friend. I was not much good to Art in France during the Great War, other than prayer and friendship. I can change; give me time to borrow a horse and a gun. I will go with you.”

  Susanne said, “Thank you, but no. Grace has greater need of you than we do right now. Please take care of Grace. Give honor to Clayton on his last day above ground.”

  James nodded, “Then stay for his service. It will be a comfort to Grace.”

  Susanne said, “Grace has other friends to comfort her this day. She has you to give her God’s Word as a comfort.”

  LillieBeth said, “Reverend James, we do not even know where the Braunawalls are. We are hunting for nothing more than information. But, if we do not search soon, they may disappear into the far reaches of this wide country. They have the whole of Maine and California to hide in, plus every place in between.”

  Susanne and LillieBeth flowed around James, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the yard. It was not far to the corral, but far enough away that the knot of men standing by their horses could not have heard their exchange.

  Rail Howerbach stroked Fletcher’s flanks. “That is a fine looking horse, Miss Hazkit. When your father gets to feeling better, you let him know I might be interesting in buying him.”

  LillieBeth checked the saddle rigging. Satisfied everything was in order, she vaulted into the saddle. Her fingers rested lightly on the butt of the Winchester.

  Susanne thought that the touch of the rifle was becoming a comfort to the girl. It was her defense and strength. That should have been God’s place in the life of a young woman, but she could understand LillieBeth. The girl had been harvesting God’s abundance to feed her family for years. A gun was no more than a tool she was using to bring God’s hand into action. It did not hold more magical powers than David’s sling, Samson’s jawbone of an ass or Moses’ staff.

  It was still disconcerting to see such a weapon at the fingertips of a young girl.

  “Mr. Howerbach,” the young girl finally said, “Fletcher is my horse. Since you may not have heard, all of Mr. Hoffman’s property is now mine: title, deed, grass, stock and moonshine still.”

  There was a startled look on some of the men’s faces. It was clear the word had not filtered back to the community. Susanne realized that it would not have. Other than her and the Hazkits, only the Stone County records clerk would know Art had the property registered in his daughter’s name.

  LillieBeth continued, “Fletcher is not for sale at this point. Grace Grissom has estimated he would fetch the price of over a thousand dollars up in Branson. I will give this horse to the first man, woman or child who brings Thomas Ransom Braunawall and Daniel Glen Braunawall to justice for two counts of assault, two counts of rape, one count of attempted murder and two counts of murder.”

  Susanne mounted the chestnut mare in the silence that followed. None of the men would look either woman in the eyes.

  LillieBeth said softly. “I thought as much. God’s blessing on you and your families.” She spun Fletcher in a tight circle and walked slowly away from Grissom’s corral.

  Susanne was sure LillieBeth really wanted God’s blessings on those men and their families. She knew she did. They were a big part of her life. They shunned her and turned her out, but she could not turn her heart hard toward them. Her disappointment was almost overflowing, but she loved them all.

  The chestnut mare followed Fletcher without prompting. Susanne wondered where LillieBeth was leading them, but she did not ask. Wherever the young girl had in mind to go, she would follow. She was not sure she could pull the mare away in any other direction, but it did not matter.

  She wondered if she had the motivation to follow LillieBeth to the conclusion of their hunt. It was true the Braunawalls had harmed her, taking her virtue by force. The Braunawalls actions had cost her a comfortable home and a position she loved as a teacher. Was that justification enough to hunt them down?

  She spotted a group of children playing across the road in a copse of trees. She knew each child from school and from church. They were the boys and girls of the good people of this community. She spent hours a week with every one. She knew each one by name, their birthdates, their study habits and their bad habits. She knew which one ate boogers, which one wet his bed until he was five, and which one harbored a secret desire to be a doctor. She loved them all, boogers notwithstanding. She was denied the challenge of teaching children. They had been her children.

  Susanne closed her eyes and thought about her children. That is what the Braunawalls had taken from her. Without a husband, she would never have children of her own. She knew she was getting older, but she still had many good child baring years left. She dreamed of her own children. Now, her own children were broken dreams.

  Trance and Dangle had killed her dreams. Trance and Dangle had killed her children. She decided a root cellar full of rattlesnakes might be too good for Trance and Dangle Braunawall.

  LillieBeth pulled to a halt, allowing Susanne to catch up.

  “Why did we stop?” Susanne asked. “Did we forget something at Grace’s?”

  LillieBeth pointed with her chin up the road. “I do not suppose there is any way on this road to get past that.”

  FRIDAY - MORNING

  Susanne saw what was ahead. That was the young man she had met last Sunday. Roy Turner had expressed an interest in LillieBeth. He seemed to be a pleasant young man. No matter how the young woman talked to Turner he seemed determined to pursue her.

  They sat on their horses and waited for Turner to walk up to them.

  Roy grinned, “Well hello. I was hoping I would see you both here. At least, if here is on the way to the Grissom’s place. I was afraid I had become turned around and might be a bit lost.”

  LillieBeth said, “Good morning, Roy.”

  Susanne said, “How are you, Mr. Turner? You are on the right road. Grace Grissom’s place is just back down the way, around the bend.”

  Roy said, “I did not know Mr. Grissom, except for having him pointed out to me at church last Sunday. However, I wanted to pay my respects as a new neighbor. Grandpa wanted me to give her his respects as well. Do you think Mrs. Grissom will mind?”

  Susanne said, “Not at all, Mr. Turner. Grace will be very pleased to see you and hear from your grandfather.”

  Roy said, “I am very sorry to hear the school closed down and you are not teaching. I asked, but no one would tell me why.”

  LillieBeth said, “When you get to Grace Grissom’s place, you ask any of the men hanging out in the corral. I am sure they would be more than glad to share all of the current gossip.”

  Roy said, “Miss Harbowe, would you be available for private tutoring?
I do not have much money, most of my available cash is tied up in savings for my college tuition. But I would be willing to exchange chores for help with my advanced mathematics.”

  Susanne said, “I do not actually have any chores I can share at this point. However, you find out why the school is closed and if you still want lessons from me, then I will do them for free. That is assuming you have a way to get to the Hazkit place to get your lessons.”

  Roy said, “Ah, so you are at the Hazkit place. I was planning on seeing if I could catch a ride with someone going that way. I missed Mr. Hazkit after church last Sunday. By the time I found out for sure who he was, they were gone. I do have an important question to ask.” He looked up and winked at LillieBeth.

  LillieBeth said, “So important that you have to wait to catch a ride? It is only six or seven miles along the ridge road.”

  Roy shook his head. “Six or seven miles? That far?”

  LillieBeth said, “I guess city boys are not used to walking that far for whatever the reason.”

  Roy smiled. “I have reason enough to walk three times that distance. It is the walk home afterward that concerns me.”

  Susanne laughed. “It is just as far either way.”

  LillieBeth leaned down, stretching her neck to get close to Roy. She looked him in the eye. “Are you serious about courting me, Mr. Turner?”

  Roy looked back at her; seriousness flooding his countenance. “Miss Hazkit, the last thing I wanted this bad was for my parents not to die. That was denied me. It would break my heart for this to be denied to me as well.”

  LillieBeth said, “My father is ill, but tell him that I sent you. He will at least talk to you. I cannot guarantee his answer to your question, but I can say that he will listen. My father loves me and he will only want what is good and right for me. He is a fair man.”

  Roy said, “Then I will go today. Perhaps I will see you there?”

  LillieBeth shook her head. “Maybe not. Susanne and I are going hunting.”

  Roy laughed, “Well, I have seen you shoot. I am sure you will bring home something good to eat.”

  LillieBeth said, “No. If I shoot anything, it will only be fit to feed to Mrs. Bailey’s hogs.” She urged Fletcher forward. She and Susanne left Roy standing in the middle of the lane with a confused look on his face.

  FRIDAY – NOON

  LillieBeth levered a shell into the chamber of the Winchester and leveled the muzzle at the young man’s chest.

  Susanne said, “She asked you a question, Mr. John Buckner. As you can see, LillieBeth is not in a mood for an extended conversation or repeating herself. So I will ask now, where is your brother Steve?” The concern in her voice was evident. She hoped Buckner thought the concern was for him. Maybe it would help him answer the question.

  Her true concern was for Elizabeth Hazkit. She was too young to shoot a man in cold blood. She wondered if anyone ever got old enough for that.

  John Buckner did not take his eyes off the rifle as he shook his head.

  Magnolia screamed. She tried to get between John and LillieBeth’s rifle, but John pushed her gently out of the way.

  LillieBeth said, “Well?”

  John said, “You tell me why you are looking for him. He is my brother and whatever you think he has done, I will not help get him shot.”

  Susanne looked around the Schmitt place. It was not the first time she had been here. The Schmitts had often invited her to dinner as a special reward and gift for teaching their children. Today she saw the place with new eyes.

  The Schmitts were prosperous. Their hogs brought top dollar at live stock sales all over the Ozark Mountains and as far away as Columbia’s slaughterhouses. Their children, including their two oldest daughters Fern and Magnolia, were dressed in the latest store bought fashions. Each child was wearing clean clothes over scrubbed skin under combed hair.

  The nearby hog pens were clean, neat and well placed. Most of the rest of their place was ill-kept and disorganized. Farm tools and children’s toys scattered the yard with abandon. Mr. Schmitt took more effort with his animals than he did his family’s living space.

  With the exception of John Buckner and Magnolia, the rest of the Schmitts were aboard their buggy. It was obvious they were set to leave for Clayton Grissom’s funeral service and burial. The whole clan sat in stunned silence as LillieBeth held the unwavering rifle muzzle at John Buckner.

  John said, “Well? Go ahead and shoot me. I will not tell you where my brother Steve is if all you are going to do is shoot him down.”

  Fern called from the buggy. “LillieBeth, what are you doing? Steve is my beau, you can’t hurt him. I…I…” She looked at her parents. “I love him. I let him touch me…you know…down there. I will never get a good husband if you kill him. I will be an outcast like Miss Harbowe.”

  Mr. Schmitt looked at his oldest daughter. “Dang it, girl. Okay, Miss Hazkit. If you don’t shoot him, I will have to.”

  Magnolia finally managed to squeeze between John and LillieBeth’s rifle. “Kill me if you have to shoot someone, not John.” It was more of a speech than Magnolia usually made.

  Susanne shook her head. “No one is going to shoot anyone.”

  LillieBeth sighed. She pointed the rifle skyward. “Not right now anyway.”

  Susanne said, “Mr. Buckner, we are just looking for your brother for information. You know Clayton Grissom was killed by the Braunawalls. Art Hazkit was a witness.”

  LillieBeth said, “Trance and Dangle shot my daddy. He said so. You were there at church last Sunday when Sheriff Grissom reported how Trance and Dangle shot down Fletcher Hoffman in cold blood.”

  John said, “I know. And I am sorry. I never liked those two, honestly. I never did. I heard the shooting of Hoffman was self-defense, but I don’t believe it. Not after they shot Grissom and your father. And I would hunt them down myself if I knew where they were.”

  Susanne said, “Thank you. But your brother Steve may know where they are.”

  John shook his head. “Steve can be a bit wild on occasion, but he is not an outlaw. He would not be involved in murder.”

  LillieBeth said, “Does he ever loan his horse to anyone? I am asking about that big cross-bred Percheron.”

  John answered, “No. Never. He has never even let me ride her.”

  Fern said from the buggy, “Um…I’ve been on her with him? It is really a pretty horse-”

  “Shut up, sister,” Magnolia interrupted.

  Susanne was shocked. It was the first time she had heard the younger Schmitt girl talk back to her older sister.

  Fern said in a huff, “Well…I never…”

  Magnolia said, “Maybe you should have.” She looked at LillieBeth. “Tell me. I am and always will be your friend, Elizabeth O’Brien Hazkit. You know that. But, I love John. Tell me and I will ask him.”

  LillieBeth said, “My father recognized Steve’s horse among the men who helped Trance and Dangle escape from Sheriff Grissom’s custody. Those men gave the Braunawalls the guns they used to kill Sheriff Grissom and shoot my father.”

  John said, “Are you sure it was the same horse?”

  Susanne replied, “No, Mr. Buckner. We are not sure. Art Hazkit said he recognized the horse, but not the man. How many other big Percheron mares are there in this part of the hills? All we want to do is ask Steve a few questions.”

  John held his breath and then blew it out slowly. He grabbed Magnolia by the shoulders and again moved her gently out of the way. He looked up into their faces.

  “Questions at the point of a gun?”

  LillieBeth nodded. “I will not be denied an answer.”

  Shaking his head, John said, “I understand and I would do the same. Will you promise not to shoot Steve?”

  LillieBeth said, “No.”

  Susanne said, “Yes. I promise we will not shoot him or hurt him in any way if he is honest and tells us what he knows of Trance and Dangle.”

  LillieBeth nodded, “All right. I wi
ll hold to Susanne’s promise.”

  John said, “The ferry at Oasis across the White River is closed due to the rising waters. We can’t get across without riding all the way down to the dam at Taneycomo. Steve and I are camping out with a few other fellows from our side of the river. We are staying in a meadow a few miles south of Reed Springs.”

  Susanne said, “Why didn’t you go home before the river rose?”

  John gestured with a nod of his head to Magnolia. “It is too far from where I want to be.”

  LillieBeth said, “My apologies to you Mr. Buckner and to all of the Schmitt family. I am sorry for the interruption to your day and for my rudeness.”

  John said, “I understand your anger. But, please don’t kill Steve.”

  LillieBeth said, “I will try not to. I promised, remember? I will certainly try not to. However, if you leave here and ride to warn your brother of my coming before I can question him, I will shoot you both.”

  FRIDAY – LATE AFTERNOON

  Susanne shifted in her saddle. Being a schoolteacher did not prepare anyone for spending all day on a horse. Her fanny hurt and her legs were sore. The chestnut mare had a smooth gait and was comfortable, but not as comfortable as a chair behind a desk or standing in front of a blackboard.

  She and LillieBeth had ridden straight to Reed Springs and then ranged south, looking for a meadow with men camping. They rode west for a while and then swung back eastward as they zigzagged across the area.

  The thought of bracing a group of strange men in the middle of an Ozark Mountain forest worried Susanne. Nothing prepared her for this and she did not want to do it. She did not think LillieBeth was ready either, but every time she mentioned turning back the girl patted the rock tied to her waist.

  They smelled smoke. It took a short while to locate its source. Following it to the edge of a meadow, they spotted a campsite. There were four men sitting around in various poses of relaxation. A small string of horses was tied along the far side of the clearing. There in the middle of the horses was Steve Buckner’s big Percheron mare.