THOSE MEAN OLD PAXTON BOYS

There were pirates on the sea and there were pirates on the land. The Paxton Boys controlled a long strip of self-appointed territory that covered about a one hundred mile stretch of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. The two brothers sat on their horses, peeked through the briars and secretly observed Grace as she splashed
around the edge of the spring. The cool water was so alluring that she kept inching into it. Finally, she was submerged, clothes and all. Floating on her back, she lifted her arms, brought them up over her head and then slowly lowered them back into the refreshing, cool water.

"Oh! I do hope that our farm will have a creek running through it. If it does, I will soak in it every day."

"You won't be wanting to soak in it in the dead of winter. I can assure you, answered Daniel.

Daniel and Allred reclined along the creek bank, napping. After all, they had been half the night trying to outsmart and kill a hungry bear! Venus and Peter were drawing simple pictures in the sand of their transport ship, The Industry, while the newly-born baby, Christian, slept on a nearby blanket.

The Paxton Boys squinted their eyes as they leered through the dense foliage.

"She kinda favors my ol' lady."

"Whut? Yo' ol' lady? Shit! Yo' ol lady looks like the butt end of a horse! But, this one! She look like a fightin' lil hellcat! It'll take a real man to saddle this one! So, lil brother, why don't we see if''n we can tame her, huh? "

" Yawl go first this time, Billy."

"Na, you go Jake. I went first last time."

Their horses wove through the woods, then out of the shadows and into the clearing. Their hair was long and greasy and it had been a long time since either one of them had shaved. Their beards still contained last night's leftovers and they smelled like they had slept with a family of agitated skunks.

Jake Paxton sat high in the saddle and said, "Billy, look whut we got hyar! Look like sumbuddy swimmin' in ya swimmin' hole!"

Daniel and the others looked up and saw the two men approaching on horseback. They were momentarily startled and immediately became edgy with fear.

"Say thar! I said yawl swimmin' en Billy's swimmin' hole!"

Daniel and Allred jumped up and tried to reach for their shootin' irons. In a flash, the Paxtons dismounted, advanced and stood on the two rifles that belonged to Daniel and Allred. With fingers tenderly hugging the triggers, Paxton rifles were now pointed directly at both Daniel and Allred's heads.

Grace's heart fluttered like a startled bird as she eased out of the water. Her dress and bodice clung to her beautiful, ivory skin.

"Well, we are sorry. We didn't see anybody's name posted on it!" Her short red hair dripped as she nervously tried to straighten out her clothes. Graced glanced at Venus with fearful eyes.

Venus sensed danger. She responded by picking up Christian and grabbing Peter's hand. Quietly, she bent down and whispered into Peter's ear. " We are going to take a walk, Peta. Let's go see if we can find ourselves a deer." She whispered ever-so-softly. "Let's go now. Remember, we have to be very quiet. We can't make a sound or else we'll scare the deer away."

"Ya! We own all this hyar land," the grinning Jake boasted while making a big sweep with his rifle!

Billy then walked toward the heap of glistening bear remains and said, "Hey Jake! Look or' hyar! They done butchered muy favorite bear!"

Allred stepped forward, "Hey now, wait a durn minute! People don' own bear. They b' long to the wild!"

"What yawl don' unnerstan' old man, my brother Billy is wild! Then, with a smirk on his lips, Jake took the butt of his rifle and jammed it into Allred's belly! Allred doubled over in agony. With one swift kick. he booted Allred in the face, knocking him unconscious. Allred crumpled and fell backward into the water.

Daniel reached down and dragged him out of the water and on to the bank. Allred's mouth was filled with blood that spilled and pooled near his head.

Grace could see the evil in the Paxton Boys and knew that they would stop at nothing. The leather strap around her ankle seemed to tighten. (It was right where it was supposed to be!), she thought Her wet skirt clung to her ankles and covered her knife. She would use it if she had to! She watched their gawking stares and her heart raced!

"The long box, Daniel," Grace said with a breathless whisper that hinted a certain cleverness in her voice.

"The long box, Daniel ... the one that the Indians gave us", she repeated.

Daniel knew that she was sending him a message. He remembered the long box on the back of the wagon ... but he didn't know what was in it. By the sound of Grace's voice and the look in her eyes, he knew that it was important that he position himself close to that box. Daniel looked back at her and nodded.

"You know boys, we can somehow settle up for the use of your spring and your bear! Perhaps, we can do a little bartering here today? How about it, boys?"

"Billy, why don' ya escort this hyar man or' ta his wagon an' do a little barter ... wile' I keep an eye on this purty little green-eyed hellcat!

Jake let out a snicker and licked his puckered lips. His hungry eyes plundered Grace's wet, dripping frame.

Grace knew that Venus had cleverly taken the children away from the scuffle. She sensed that ungoverned gaze coming from Jake was not good, yet she was determined not to scream! She knew that Daniel would try to run to her rescue and would be killed. Allred could not help her. He was still bleeding and might even be dead!

She would fight though. Fight with a mighty strength she now felt mounting up inside her gut ........