Nicademus: The Wild Ones (21 page)

The collective cheer could wake the dead. The children bolted past her, knocking her away. To Jeremiah’s delight and amazement, little Annie kissed his cheek before climbing down with her wooden carving clutched in her hand. Ms. Kitty stepped aside to let her pass. Her eyes lifted to Jeremiah. “You like kids?”

“Yea, I do,” he admitted.

“Want any?” Ms. Kitty asked.

“I do.”

“With Annabelle?” she inquired.

Jeremiah stared, but Ms. Kitty smiled. She exhaled softly. “I like you, Jeremiah, lord knows our Annabelle does. I tried hard not to see the bond you two shared, but I guess you is what you is. And she wants what she wants.”

“Don’t we all?” he asked.

She walked over and sat next to him, fixing her skirt under her on the wooden bench. They stared out to the dusty road. There was no need to hide him below during the day. They’d all accepted the fate of the town. The sun baked the air, making it hot and humid to breathe. He was thankful for the shadow of the awning, and the scarce breeze every now and then. For now it was just a waiting game.

“Knew a man like you once,” she began.

“How so?” he asked.

Ms. Kitty chewed on her bottom lip. Her gaze remained focused on a memory he couldn’t see. But the mere conjuring of it brought tears to her eyes. “He was … he was my first love,” she glanced over at him. “He saved my life. From his father.”

“Father? But I thought Tyler Shepherd was the man who …” Jeremiah paused.

Ms. Kitty nodded. “It was his son who helped me escape. After seeing all that I had endured. After suffering with me because we could never be anything. He gave me the gift of freedom from Tyler Shepherd. He was like you. He claimed to not see color, just love me for me. But he soon learned that the way the world sees us will never change.” She paused and he waited for her to continue. “Men want sons. Not the kind who’d be second class citizens, but sons in their own image. You get my meaning?”

“That’s not me and Annabelle,” Jeremiah spoke up.

Ms. Kitty shrugged her shoulders. “So you say. Now. But in a couple of years, after living a life on the run you might think differently. Or life will catch you and teach you differently. Don’t be fooled by Nicademus, outlaw. This town is an illusion. Out there, past those mountains, that’s the reality. And you and I both know Annabelle don’t understand the reality.”

“I won’t let no harm come to Annabelle. The war is over. Slavery done, people are changing. Nicademus isn’t an illusion, it’s a sign of what’s to come.”

“Not fast e’nuff. But yes, times are changing,” Ms. Kitty agreed.

“I never meant to bring trouble here. I never meant to bring you any.”

“It’s not your doing. Shepherd would have eventually found Nicademus. The man lives to corrupt anything pure.” Ms. Kitty looked over at him. “Annabelle said you two want to leave after this is done.”

“We hoping to,” he said.

“Where will you go?”

“Wyoming. It’s a lot of homesteading going on there. I knew a man in the war who told me about how different things are there. It was always my plan to take my revenge and head west. We can start fresh,” Jeremiah said.

“Well here’s news for you. Red Sun and I will be going with you if my plan fails,” she said. “It’s the only way you’re taking our Annabelle from this town. From her home.”

“And leave Nicademus?” Jeremiah asked.

“We may not have a choice.” Ms. Kitty stood and dusted her hands. She looked up to the clouds. “Lunch will be ready soon. Come and get it when you want it.”

She was gone.

Jeremiah reclined a bit and digested the news. He never anticipated taking them with him. They could slow him down if the marshals pinned this on him with all the other unjust crimes. He wasn’t sure what to think of the request. Or how to convince Annabelle that it was best they leave her family behind. Maybe Tyler Shepherd had already collapsed from the poison and his posse was long gone. Maybe there was no real threat to this town except him. Time was short and he had to decide on what to do. The problem was he didn’t know.

**

Henry dropped down on the extended root of a blackberry tree.
 
He spat tobacco juice, coating his tongue and teeth. He stared out over the prairie, the bib of his hat shielding his eyes from the sun. It had been four hours so far and not even a jackrabbit had happened by. Untying his handkerchief from his neck, he dabbed his face.

He and Samuel were set upon the highest hill watching the valley that sloped to the east. Pa wanted both sides of the town covered. It had been long hours of rotations with nothing. Henry was beginning to think that the enemy was long gone on the chase they had pushed him toward.

“You fixin’ to head back?” Henry asked when Samuel stood from his side.

“We’ve been at it all morning. Time to bring in the next,” Samuel said.

Henry stood. He removed his hat and slapped it against the side of his leg. “I’d prefer we stay just a while longer.”

“Why?” Samuel asked.

“Just think it wise is all,” he replied.

“Wha’chu planning, Henry?” Samuel pressed.

“Think on it, Sam! That asshole out there only wants the outlaw. He don’t give a damn about Nicademus.”

“And?” Samuel asked.

“We need to make the stand. Save the town by giving this railroad buzzard what he truly wants. Cut a deal.”

Samuel’s eyes stretched around the idea. What Henry suggested was suicide. Samuel was his father’s deputy, a position that Henry wanted. If he played this right he could stop with his farming and measly trading with neighboring towns. He could be the respected one. And maybe Annabelle would see him as more than a friend. Maybe she would look at him the way he saw her looking at that damn outlaw.

“You want ta strike a deal with that man? You have no idea what we facing!” Samuel warned. “And it’s all for Annabelle, isn’t it? Trying to impress her, or get rid of the competition.”

Before Henry could respond he saw a cloud of dust rising in the distance. Samuel followed his eyes. “Do you see what I see?”

“I see it,” Samuel replied. “Let’s ride! We got to tell the sheriff.” Samuel mounted his horse. Henry held back. “What’chu waitin for? Let’s ride!”

“I’ma talk to him. You go ahead. Warn the town,” Henry said.

“No! Henry, no!” Samuel said.

“Go! If what I think is right, I might save us all the trouble. Don’t warn the outlaw. Don’t tell him my plan. Just tell Pa.”

“Henry! No!”

Henry jumped on his horse and rode off toward the advancing posse.
 

Deputy Samuel Harper almost followed but he considered how vulnerable the town would be without any warning. Spitting a wad in anger, he turned and raced his horse for Nicademus.

**

“You sure?” the sheriff asked. As if Samuel’s arrival minus his son wasn’t proof enough. He paced the floor and rubbed the stress from his brow. His jaw locked tight and his chest heaved.

“I couldn’t stop him. I’m sorry, Sheriff,” Samuel said.

Gripped by fear, the sheriff grabbed Samuel and shoved him up against the wall. The man’s eyes stretched with fear. He was so close to strangling the bastard. But what would that prove? This was his son’s doing. His son who thought he needed to prove something.

“How far behind are they?” asked Jeremiah. The Indian stood silent and watchful of the men.

“We got maybe thirty minutes before they arrive. Depending on what happened to Henry,” Samuel said.

The sheriff released Samuel. He staggered and dropped in the chair. Everyone in the room seemed to mourn Henry before his fate was confirmed. Because they knew Tyler Shepherd would not let the young man live.

“We have to get the women and children and hide them,” Ms. Kitty announced.

“Not all of us plan on hidin’!” Honey and a few of the saloon girls appeared with guns and rifles. They wore pants and vests over button down shirts, ready to join the fight. Honey stepped aside and Annabelle appeared as well. She avoided Jeremiah’s questioning stare.

“We intend to join the fight,” Annabelle said. “All of us that can.”

The sheriff put up his hand to silence everyone. “We stick to the plan. My boy made his choice. We need to be ready to make our own. Cora right. Put the children and the elderly below in the cellar. Now! Go!” The bubble of apprehension popped and a charge ignited among the townspeople. Everyone ran for the doors. Several got to their designated posts––rooftops, crawl spaces, and on top floors that gave elevated views of the streets for leveling a gun.
All but Red Sun and Jeremiah
.

“Henry could be alive,” Jeremiah said.

“There’s a chance he’s alive,” Samuel said. “A small one.”

Jeremiah looked back at Annabelle with her gun and her pride all on display. He had to end this before the slaughter began.

**

The town was empty.
Dead
. Or so they wanted him to believe. That’s what Tyler Shepherd thought from his elevated view. He gave the nod to two of his men. His vision blurred and corrected itself. Tyler spat and swallowed a breath, but his throat was so raw and his head ached so bad he feared he was suffering from heat exhaustion. He pulled his hanky from around his neck and wiped his feverish brow. Nothing, however, would deter him from his mission. Twelve men surrounded him, all armed and pumped up on hate and inflated egos. They were filled with righteous indignation over what they’d been told. Their men, brothers, neighbors, sons had been killed by a town of vermin.

“Wha’chu think, boss?” Abraham asked. He peered out from under the low bib of his hat.

“Looks like an ambush to me,” Shepherd coughed, and spat once more. He wiped spittle from his lips with the back of his hand. “Bring him out.”

“You heard the boss, get him over here!” Matthew echoed.

A young man who had been badly beaten and tied at the wrist was dragged forward. Forced to walk while his men remained on their horses, he could barely keep his head up. But he managed. The boy said his name was Henry.

“How many in that town, boy?” Shepherd asked. He reclined back with his hands to the top horn on his saddle. Their captive glanced to the town and his gaze lowered. Shepherd sensed some of the young man’s bravado slipping. However, their prisoner refused to answer, or possibly couldn’t by the looks of his jaw. Mathew, on the horse behind Shepherd, drew his gun, but Shepherd put his hand up to stay the action.

“You already told me the town has Jeremiah Polk. Nothing else to say?” Shepherd asked. When Henry didn’t respond he chuckled. “Send in our warning shot,” Shepherd ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Abraham replied from his left. He wasn’t on his horse. Young Henry turned in time to receive a blow to the side of his head. The vicious assault dropped him to his knees. The other two men came down from their horses to assist. Shepherd’s posse had grown from eight, with two murdered, to twenty-three. The men held Henry down as another roped him up, and then fastened the end of the rope to the back of the young man’s saddled horse. Henry fought as best he could but it was a losing battle. Soon his fate, mistakes and all, flashed over his face. Shepherd relished the fear and terror he saw in the kid’s eyes. He wiped his feverish brow and smirked. Henry huffed and puffed, trying to breathe.

“Yah!” Abraham yelled with a swipe to the back of the horse’s behind. The steed charged forward, heading for the town, dragging Henry twisting and thrashing behind.

**

“Stay here.” Annabelle ordered the kids. She held her shotgun in her hand and wore her Colt Patterson holstered to the belt she had fastened around her waist. The elderly, women, and children were in the bottom basement of the saloon. Jeremiah had begged her to stay below. Convinced her she could help by protecting them. She knew better. She could help best by joining them. This was her fight too.

“Where you going?” Ms. Kitty asked.

“Upstairs. We both should go. You seen Honey and the other girls go off with the men. Why should we stay here?” Annabelle said.

“Why?” Ms. Kitty walked over to her and lowered her voice. “Because of them.” She pointed at the terrified children. “Because someone has to protect them, or don’t you remember what happened the last time you was put in the corner of a cave when a war raged between them and us?”

The words cut open wounds Annabelle never believed had fully healed. She choked on her pain and the memory. It hurt for her to throw it back in her face. But it was a cold hard truth she needed to hear.

“If they come in here, somebody need to stop them at the door,” Annabelle said.

Ms. Kitty sighed. She began to see the meaning of the argument. Below they were trapped. A distraction above may be a better protective measure. She picked up her rifle. “I’ll stay down here then. Go on!”

Annabelle gave her a sad smile. She turned and started to climb up.

**

Jeremiah and the sheriff had both chosen to take position on top of the bank. Across the street was the saloon where three other men hid from view. The building on the left was the general store. He saw Honey at the side of it kneeling behind a stack of crates. She had changed from the fancy gown into a pair of men’s britches with overalls. She wore a dusty floppy hat. If it weren’t for her long braids he’d have mistaken her for a man. The other men peeked out from their hiding spots. Red Sun and a few others were on the ground, also hidden low for the ambush. They were ready. He hoped they were ready. And then he knew they weren’t.