Forty Acres and a Mule

by Darrel Bird

reckon thats so Moses.”

  About nine Josh spotted riders coming, and when they got to the edge of the clearing they stopped, “Here they come Moses.”

  “How many are they?”

  “Looks like five or six, including the sheriff. “ Moses sight wasn't all that good, and Josh doubted he would be able to see what he was shooting at.

  Josh cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled toward the men, “Ain't advisable to come any closer than you are. My old 54 caliber musket makes a mighty big hole!”

  He could see the men talking, and Bertram waving his arms around at the sheriff. The sheriff called back, “Mind if I come on and talk?”

  “Go ahead and bring the talk, but you come by yourself, and leave your weapons there!”

  He could see the sheriff hand his guns to a deputy, and he rode his horse on up the lane until he was a few feet from the porch.

  “Now you listen here son, Mr. Bertram has a right to recall one of his employees under the apprenticeship act. Ain't nothing can be done, but abide by the law.”

  “Now they are employee's are they? Well know this sheriff, as I done told you she is my wife, and I'll not abide any man laying hands on her. Not you, not Bertram, nor the Devil himself.”

  “Where is she at?”

  “You never mind about that, you just go on and gather that nest of crooks, and leave. You all set foot on this place and me and Moses will shoot, and it might be you that gets a musket ball, but I'll only tell you one thing sheriff, what you are about ain't right, and you know it.”

  The sheriff hung his head a little, but Josh could spot the stubborn streak as the sheriff forced his back to stiffen against right, and his own God.

  “I was hopin' we might come together. Well son, its on your head. Bertram is dead set on that gal.”

  “He may end up just dead.”

  The sheriff wheeled his horse and rode back to the men. Josh laid his musket across the porch rail, took aim, and watched as the men talked. He could see that Bertams face was angry red as he kicked his horses flanks roughly. The stallion reared, and came down hard, but Bertram held the reins in an iron grip.

  “He's cutting that horses mouth with that bit.” Moses said. “That man ain't worth two hoots and a holler.”

  The horses began walking forward, and Josh lined his musket up on the first man. He let out his breath slowly and pull the trigger. He saw the man fly off his horse as if he had been clubbed. The men jerked the reins and turned to hightail it back to the brush and trees that bordered the road. One of the men hauled the man that had been hit back into the trees.

  Soon the men opened fire from the trees. Josh and Moses got into the house and slammed the door. They opened shutters on both windows. Josh fired at a spot where smoke bloomed from the black powder. Moses fired both barrels of his old shotgun one at a time.

  “Moses, what you shooting for? That scatter gun won't shoot half that far.”

  “No, but she makes some mighty fine noise.” Moses grinned at him.

  The pot shooting went on for an hour, as each tried to hit something. “They sure ain't in a hurry to come out where we can see them.”

  “Boy that was a good shot with that musket, can't rightly say I blame them.”

  “I been barking squirrels since I was knee high to a toad frog. My pappy would whup me if I wasted good powder and lead. I really ain't trying to hit nobody, just put some fear of the Lord in them. Moses, if we mess around and kill us a sheriff, they'll run us down and hang us.”

  “Reckon thats the truth. They already got us if they rush us, but boy, they are set on killin' us anyway, so if that badge sticks it's head upside that porch, I am gonna shoot me a sheriff.”

  Josh thought he saw a shirt in the woods and fired, but he couldn't tell if he got a hit. He cupped his hand behind his ear, “Moses, did you hear something?”

  “I can't hear too good son, what is it you thought you heard.”

  “I hear what sounds like a big bunch of horses, and they are coming this way. Looks like they aim to over run us.”

  Josh saw a united states flag come into view, followed by many blue uniformed soldiers. Then he spotted Verma Lee on old Jack riding beside an officer with a long sword.

  “Stay here Moses I'm going down there.”

  When he got to the place where the road opened up, he saw a red faced Bertram talking to the officer.

  “Thats the man that shot at us, and hit one of my men!” he said loudly, pointing his long finger at Josh.

  “I'm captain Graham Stantin, and I have been instructed to see that the reconstruction begins, who might you be son?”

  “I'm Josh Barnes, and Mr. Bertram there tried to take my wife back and work her on his plantation.”

  “Well we can't have that now can we? I have already talked with your young bride here, and I pretty much got the picture.”

  “Mr. Bertram, this young woman is free to go where she wants, and if she is further harassed by you, I will haul you on a pole and hang you for insurrection. Do you hear me?”

  Bertram nodded his head, but his face was purple with anger. The officer looked at Josh,

  “Mr. Barnes, that be all I can do for you today? Anybody hurt?”

  “No sir, we just need to get back to farmin', can my wife come with me now?”

  “Miss, you go on with your husband now, and we'll see that this stays straight, so don't you be fretting yourself.”

  The captain turned to his men, “Wheel about! Mr. Bertram and you sheriff will ride along with me, and sheriff, I have to say, that you should know better than too allow this to take place.”

  “Yes sir, I aim to be a better man, and a better lawman in the future. I knowed this wasn't right, and I let my pride get in the way.”

  “Well said sheriff, well, lets ride back then.”

  Josh watched the men until they were out of sight. His wife dismounted and walked along beside him holding his hand. When they got back to the cabin Moses met them in the yard, “What was all that talk about?”

  “It was about a reconstruction Moses. I don't think Bertram will bother us again. That captain threatened to hang him if he did. He didn't appear like he was going to put up with any more of Bertrams tomfoolery.”

  “I don't think that will help us darks much.”

  “Hate don't make much since, does it Moses?”

  “No, don't reckon it do, but you can't stamp out hate with a reconstruction.” He looked sadly back the way they had come.

  “I brought you some tobacco seed from town Papa. Mr. Gardner gave them to me for you. He a white man, but he sure is nice. He went to talk to the captain for us.”

  The end