CHAPTER 31 ROAD BANDITS

NEXT MORNING JOHN ROBERSON GOT TEAM HITCH UP AND HAD HIS COFFEE WHILE MRS. MINNIE AND JIMMIE GOT READY TO GO TO TOWN. SOON THEY WAS READY AND CAME OUT SIDE AND JOHN HELP THEM UP IN THE WAGON.

JOHN YOU ALL HOLD TIGHT,HEEE HAAA ,AND THE WHIP CRACK OVER THE HORSES HEADS.

THE BIG WAGON LURCHES AND STARTS TO MOVE OUT ON THE PATH TO THE ROAD.

JIMMIE WEEE HANG ON GRANNY!

MRS. MINNIE YOU HANG ON ,JIMMIE

JOHN ROBERSON WHEELS THE 4 UP LIKE HE BEEN DOING IT ALL HIS LIFE.

MRS. MINNIE JOHN HOW YOU GET TO BE A OFFICER, DID YOU GO TO WEST POINT?

JOHN ROBERSON NO MRS. MINNIE , I DID NOT, I GOT A BATTLE FIELD COMMISSION. IN WAR WITH MEXICO. MOST COMPANY GOT WIPE OUT IN A AMBUSH. IN CLUEING OFFICER THAT LEAD US. I WAS THE RANKING N.C.O. THEY PROMOTED ME TO 2 LT,I TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

MRS. MINNIE THAT MUST BEEN A BAD DAY!

JOHN ROBERSON I TRY TO WARN THE OFFICE THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT, HE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME, LOT MEN DIED THAT DAY INCLUDING HIM, FOR THAT

JIMMIE MR. ROBERSON YOU GET ANY MEDELS,WHEN IN CALVARY?

JOHN ROBERSON FEW JIMMIE, IF HAD A SON HE COULD GO TO WEST POINT, I WON THAT.

MRS. MINNIE YOU GOT TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR THAT?

JOHN ROBERSON YES MRS. MINNIE.

AFTER A HOUR DRIVEN THE WAGON THEY CAME TO OUT SKIRT OF TOWN, JOHN KIND OF PULL HIS HENRY CLOSE TO HIM,

JOHN ROBERSON THESE TOWN ARE RUFF NOW THE WAR IS OVER, LOT BAD MEN AROUND.

MRS. MINNIE "JOHN," YOU JUST NOT USE TO BEEN OFF THE POST.

JOHN ROBERSON MRS. MINNIE I LIVE THIS LONG, BY GOING ON MY GUT FEELINGS, I FEEL SOMETHING IN THE AIR.

MRS. MINNIE YES JOHN ,, AS THEY PULL UP IN FRONT THE BANK, AND FROGGIE BILL STANDING OUT IN FRONT.

FROGGIE BILL in deep voice MRS. MINNIE COME IN SIDE AND WE DO BUSINESS,

JOHN GOT DOWN HELP JIMMIE AND MRS. MINNIE DOWN ,SET THE BREAK AND WENT IN SIDE.

FROGGIE BILL MRS. MINNIE I GOT PAPERS RIGHT HERE.

MRS. MINNIE JOHN READ THEM, REMEMBER MY GLASSES ARE BROKE.

JOHN YES MUM , HE READS THE PAPER WORK SAY PAY MINNIE FRANKS 400 FOR 20 ACERS, NORTH PLOT OF 5 SECTION, OF TOWN SHIP 17.

JOHN IT IS IN ORDER MRS. MINNIE.

MRS. MINNIE SIGN THE PAPER WORK AND FROGGIE BILL GIVES HER THE MONEY IN GOLD COIN,

FROGGIE BILL GUESS THAT CONCLUDE OUR TRANSACTION MRS. MINNIE.

MRS. MINNIE I WANT TO THINK YOU MR. BILL. WE BE OUT REAL SOON.

THEY GO OUT SIDE ,AS JOHN HELPING MRS. MINNIE AND JIMMIE UP INTO THE SET, HE NOTICE FROGGIE BILL TALKING TO TWO MEN,

JOHN ROBERSON MRS. MINNIE YOU KNOW WHO THE TWO MEN ARE?

MRS. MINNIE THEY HIS TWO SONS. HE MAYBE TELLING THEM HE JUST BOUGHT MY PLACE.

JOHN ROBERSON I DID NOT SEE THEM WHEN WE AT HIS PLACE,

MRS. MINNIE THEY STAY IN TOWN A LOT, STAY IN SALOON A LOT.

JOHN ROBERSON GET UP HAAAA AND CRACK OF THE WHIP OVER THE HEADS ,AND THEY OFF.

THEY GOT 5 MILES OUT TOWN, HAD LONG STRETCH OF ROAD A HEAD OF THEM. JOHN NOTICE TWO RIDERS CATCHING UP. AS THEY PASS THE WAGON JOHN LOOK AT THEM ,AND THEY SEEM TO TURN HEAD AWAY ,AND NEVER SAID ANYTHING, AND JUST ROAD ON. JOHN DROVE ON FOR A MILE HE COULD SEE A SWEEPING BEN IN THE ROAD, JOHN PULL UP THE WAGON.

JOHN ROBERSON.. MRS. MINNIE CAN YOU DRIVE THIS TEAM?

MRS. MINNIE WELL I SUPPOSE SO JOHN, YOU SICK?

JOHN ROBERSON NO MRS. MINNIE I WANT TO GO A HEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND THAT BEN, I LEARN LONG TIME BACK WHEN A MAN WANT LOOK YOU IN THE EYE, HE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, OR ABOUT TO.

MRS. MINNIE YOU BE CAREFUL JOHN,

JOHN ROBERSON I WILL.. GIVE ME TWO MINUTES TO GET A HEAD START ,AND START THE TEAM UP. JOHN TAKES OFF RUNNING WITH HIS HENRY.

MRS. MINNIE JIMMIE YOU GET DOWN IN SIDE THE WAGON. AND COVER UP. ONE MINUTE UP,1,2,3,4, AS SHE COUNTS OFF THE TIME.

MRS. MINNIE CRACKS THE WHIP GET UP THERE HEEE HAAAA. AS WAGON MOVES .

ON,

JOHN GOT TO THE WOODS HE SEE THE TWO THAT RODE BY THEM, WEIGHTING WITH HOODS OVER THEIR FACES, ONE SAYS TO OTHER.

ROBBER #1 RECON DAD GIVE US ANY THE MONEY?

ROBBER#2 HE NEVER GAVE US ANY BEFORE. HOW HE GET HIS LAND BUY IT THEN ROB THEM GET MONEY BACK,

ROBBER#1 I HEAR THE WAGON GET READY.

JOHN ROBERSON HOLD IT RIGHT THERE ,I GOT A HENRY ON YOU, YOU DEAD IF YOU MOVE.

ROBBER#2 DO NOT SHOOT MISTER.

JOHN ROBERSON .YOU ON LEFT BY FINGER TIPS PULL YOU GUN AND DROP IT.

ROBBER#1 DOES AS HE TOLD. AND SAYS DAD GOING BEAT US NOW.

JOHN ROBERSON OK YOU ON RIGHT BY FINGER TIPS PULL THE GUN AND DROP IT.

ROBBER#2 DID AS HE TOLD, AND SAID HOW YOU KNOW?

JOHN ROBERSON MY SKIN BEEN CRAWLING ALL MORNING ,WHEN THAT HAPPENS ,,LOOK OUT.

MRS. MINNIE PULLS UP WITH WAGON.

JOHN ROBERSON GET OFF THEM HORSES. GIVE ME THAT ROPE.

ROBBER#1 DROPS THE ROPE OF HIS SADDLE.

MRS. MINNIE YOU ANT GOING TO HANG THEM ARE YOU JOHN?

JOHN NOT BY THE NECK I ANT. JOHN TIE HAND AND FEET TOGETHER AND THROW ROPE OVER A BRANCH AND HOST ROBBER 1 UP OFF GROWN. THAN DO SAME THING TO ROBBER #2 AS THEY SWINGING BY HANDS AND FEET TIED TOGETHER. JOHN WROTE A NOTE AND PIN IT TO THEIR HOODS ,WHICH THEY STILL HAD ON. IT READ HERE TWO ROBBERS THAT FROGGIE BILL SENT TO ROBB MRS. MINNIE OUT THE MONEY HE PAID HER FOR HER LAND. IF YOU CHECK YOU FINE THIS NOT FIRST TIME SOME ONE HE BOUGHT LAND FROM WAS ROB RIGHT AFTER THE SALE. SIGN JOHN ROBERSON US CALVARY RETIRED.

JOHN ROBERSON GOT UP IN THE BOX TOOK THE RAINES

JOHN ROBERSON MRS. MINNIE WE NEED GRAB SOME YOUR THINGS AND GET OUT WHILE WE CAN.THEY ANT GOING TO HOLD FOR EVER, FROGGIE BILL MAY HAVE ENOUGH PULL GET OUT THIS. AND COME AFTER US TO GET YOUR MONEY.

MRS. MINNIE GET MY AND JIMMIE CLOTHS WE BE READY TO GO, I GOT SOME HAMS IN SMOKE HOUSE WE USE. AND TWO SIDE OF SALT MEAT,

JOHN ROBERSON CRACK THE WHIP MOVE ON HEEEE HAAAH CRACK CRACK, NOW THEY READY ON THE MOVE .

MRS. MINNIE JIMMIE HANG ON, THIS GOING BE A RUFF RIDE.

BACK AT CAMP, JACK LEG HAS A FUNNY LOOK TO IT,SPOTED DEER AND CHEROKEE BILL BEEN LOOKING AT IT.

CHEROKEE BILL WELL LOOKS LIKE IT IS TURNING.

SPOTTED DEER YA ,IT DOES, NOW THE TIME FOR THE MAGGOTS IN WONE. IN DAY OR TWO WE HAVE TO CUT LEG OFF.

LIZZIE came up WHAT YOU AND BILL WHISPERING ABOUT HERE?

CHEROKEE BILL JACK LEG IS GETTING WORST, WE THINKING OF PUTTING MAGGOTS IN IT.

LIZZIE THINK IT HELP?

CHEROKEE BILL WANT HURT ,WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING, OR SOON BE CUTTING OFF LEG. THEY HELP MULES AND HORSES GET OVER BAD SORES. WE KNOW THAT.

LIZZIE TRY IT, TRY ANY THING, YOU THINK WILL HELP,

SPOTTED DEER WE NEED A DEAD ANIMAL OF SOME KIND,BEEN DEAD COUPLE DAYS, TO  GET THEM.

LIZZIE THERE FLAP JACK, JACK HORSE ,JACK KILL HIM THREE DAYS BACK, THEY MIGHT BE SOME THERE.

CHEROKEE BILL WHERE THE HORSE AT?

LIZZIE HE 3 MILES SOUTH EAST OF HERE ,OR ABOUT,

CHEROKEE BILL I GO LOOK AND SEE ANY ON THE BODY.

CHEROKEE BILL ,GETS ON HIS HORSE AND RIDE OFF SOUTH EAST.

JACK COMING TO LOOK AT LIZZIE [ I THINK I CAN SMELL MY LEG LIZZIE] CUT IT OFF BEFORE IT KILLS ME HUN.

LIZZIE WE GOING TRY PUTTING MAGGOTS IN THE WONE JACK ,IF THAT DO NOT WORK ,WE CUT IT OFF,

JACK STRANGE I SEEN MEN LEFT ON BATTLE FIELD, COVER WITH THEM AND LIVE, AND MEN WITH SCRATCHES DIE FROM GANG GREEN, I WONDER WHY?

LIZZIE    CHEROKEE BILL LOOKING AT FLAP JACK BODY SEE IF ANY ON HIM.

SOON CHEROKEE BILL WAS BACK AT CAMP, HE HAD A PIECE OF MEAT COVERED WITH MAGGOTS, AND SPOTTED DEER PLACE SOME IN THE WONE ON JACK LEG.

SPOTTED DEER WE SEE SOON IF THEY HELP JACK LEG. OR WE CUT IT OFF IF NOT.

CHEROKEE BILL    NEXT 24 HOURS WILL TELL THE TAIL,,

SUSIE          GREAT SPIRIT WELL HELP HIM.