Two years before the Civil War started, five slaves along with two slavers on horses were on their way to Greenville to work at a plantation with iron chains around the ankles of each slave, as it got dark, it grew cold and the slaves wore cloaks. One of the slavers noticed a little light coming their way; it was a man on a horse drawn carriage that had a wooden tooth on a spring. "State your business." said one of the slavers. "I'm Dr. Keith Howard and this is Patriot." Dr. Howard said as his horse bobbed her head. "Good sir, we are sending these slaves to Greenville to work at a plantation, so please step aside." One of the brothers said as his hand went for a gun. "Do any of you poor men know the Brittle Brothers?" Dr. Howard asked. "I do." One of the slaves said. Dr. Howard did a walk past with his lantern held up until he spotted a male with blonde hair and soft lilac eyes. "Did you say that you know the Brittle Brothers, young man?" Dr. Howard asked. "Yes I did." The slave said again. "I am willing to buy and set free young… what's your name?" asked Dr. Howard. "Marik Ishtar." Marik said. "How much for Marik?" the doctor asked. In a flash, the doctor pulled a gun and killed one of the brothers and killed the horse the other was on, had the horse's dead weight on his leg. "Iron is nasty stuff to use on skin." Dr. Howard said as he removed the iron shackles from around Marik's ankles. Marik put on a winter coat, boots and a hat that used to be the man's as he was now a free man and got onto the horse. "The rest of you have two choices, you can be free and come with me or kill the gentleman on the ground and go in the direction you came earlier." Dr. Howard said as he got onto his carriage and Marik got himself onto a horse. Marik was daydreaming about his wife as he rode Bandit. "Who are you thinking about, Marik?" Dr. Howard asked as he gave Marik some food and a drink. "I was thinking about my beautiful wife, Irisi." Marik said as he took a bite of food. "Irisi, as in Irisi Sennen?" Dr. Howard asked. "Yes, her former master nicknamed her Risi." Marik said. "I know why you're looking for her, Marik." Dr. Howard replied. The next day they rode into a town in Texas and stopped at a saloon as a bartender was fixing a light. "We're not open for another hour, sir." The bartender said. "Sheriff!" the bartender cried as he went to grab the sheriff. When the doctor shot the sheriff, he knew that the sheriff was a wanted criminal. "Now you can get the Marshall, sir." Dr. Howard said as he and Marik walked back into the saloon. When the Marshall arrived, everyone surrounded the saloon. "Good day, I'm Dr. Keith Howard and this is Marik Ishtar, a free slave." Dr. Howard said as they walked out with their hands up. "You do realize that you elected a wanted criminal as your sheriff, Marshall and I have a bounty in my pocket, may I lower my arm so that I can grab it?" Dr. Howard asked. "Yes you may." The Marshall said. "It's been signed by the judge." The doctor said.
To be continued