She moved towards the fireplace where the rifle hung. It had been her birthday present years ago. She stretched out her hand to reach it but he had already crossed the room. He reached out with his fist, striking her across the jaw. She staggered back, hitting her head against the table. Struggling to regain her balance, she grabbed for a weapon. The only thing within her reach a kitchen knife. Raising it she said, "Get out of here!"
Seeing the knife in her hand, he laughed and reached out smacking it out of her hand. Using this moment of distraction, she jumped up and grabbed again for the rifle. Surprised by her quick thinking, he jumped up pulling her back and twisted her arms painfully behind her.
"That's a pretty blue dress you got on. I expected to see you all in black."
"Blackstone!" Daniel said from across the room. "Leave her be!"
"Not dead then? I guess we can fix that up." He still held Rebecca by the arms and continued to twist them. She was now kneeling on the ground her arms high up behind her. She twisted herself around so that she could see Daniel's face.
Looking at her he said to Blackstone, "You got no quarrel with her. This is between us."
"It seems to me we did have a quarrel." He said looking down at Rebecca. Still holding onto her with one hand, he slapped her hard across the face. The force of the slap sent her flying backwards, as her body reeled out and away from him, he let go and she slammed into the cabin wall with a crash. She did not move.
Spinning away from her, he grabbed the rifle and pointed it at Daniel. He didn't see the cabin door behind him, swing wide or see Israel reach a hand in the door, grab Tick-licker and slide it across the floor to Daniel.
"Run!" Daniel shouted to Israel as he reached down and grabbed the rifle. Blackstone turned and fired but Israel had jumped off the porch, rolling and diving. Scrambling he crawled on his belly beneath the porch where he hid next to Jemima. Daniel followed him out the door and clicking the hammer back on Tick-licker, he said, "Drop it, Blackstone. You got three seconds to decide. "
Blackstone spun back around and the two men stood ten feet apart, rifles pointed at each other.
"You destroyed William's life! He was never the same after he lost his commission."
"Drop it." Daniel said again.
"I've got nothing to lose." Blackstone said and squinted his eye ready to fire. But before he could fire, a bullet straight from Tick-licker struck him. He fell slowly backwards off the porch steps until he landed in the dust motionless. Daniel followed him down the steps, rifle still in hand. Kicking the rifle away from him, he knelt down and picked it up.
Kneeling in front of the first step he said to his children, "C'mon out now. It's alright." As they scrambled out , he turned and rushed into the cabin, Israel and Mima trailing behind. She had not moved and he feared she might be dead. Kneeling beside her he leaned close and could see her chest rise and fall. He gently picked her up and limping laid her on their bed.
"Israel, go and get Cincinnatus. Mima, bring her some water." Gently he touched the side of her face. "Becky?" Her eyes fluttered open. "Thank God!" He said. "Are you alright, Becky?"
"I'm fi- Daniel! Your shoulder's bleeding. Sit down. Mima, go get Cincinnatus." She sat up and holding her head she tried to reach his shoulder.
"Israel already went for him. Becky, sit down." Daniel said.
"Why don't you both sit down, and I'll take care of things." Jemima said smiling. Looking up at her, they both obeyed, sitting side by side on the bed.
"Ma, lie back and rest, and put this on your eye." She said handing her a coldcloth. "It's starting to turn black already." Turning to her father she said, "Here, Pa. Put this on your shoulder. Can you reach it?"
Cincinnatus laughed when he saw the two of them sitting quietly and obediently following Mima's orders. "Mima, I'm going to remember this. Next time either one of them takes sick - we'll know who to order them around! They never listen so well to me." He shook his head at the the two of them. " And what's the matter with you folks anyway, you aren't back home more than twenty-four hours before you seem to stumble your way into trouble."
"Just our own special luck." Daniel said with a smile. "What about Rebecca?" He asked. "She got hit pretty hard."
"Oh, for pity's sake, Daniel. I'm fine. Just a little bump on the head. Honestly, stop fussing." She turned to Cincinnatus. "Is his shoulder alright? He broke his stitches open, didn't he?"
"Now, if you two don't stop fussing, I'm gonna separate you." Cincinnatus said firmly seeing them getting ready to argue he said, "Be quiet." Pointing at Rebecca he said, "It isn't just a little bump on your head. You must have hit it mighty hard. You need to rest. Stay just where you are for the next two days." And turning and pointing to Daniel he said, "And you! You did a nice job of re-opening that wound. You stay put too. You keep that arm still! In fact, you better stay where you are for at least two days too."
Cincinnatus turned to Israel and Mima. "You two think you can manage them? I can stay on, if you think they'll be unruly."
Mima smiled and said, "That's alright Cincinnatus. They'll behave. Won't you?"
Her parents nodded meekly.
"C'mon," Cincinnatus said to Israel and Mima, "I'll show you how to brew that sassafras tea - it will help your Ma's headache, and Mima let me show you a poultice for your father's shoulder. The three of them disappeared into the other room.
"Well," Daniel said. "I guess we'll have to stay put." He turned and smiled at Rebecca. "You sure you're alright? Your eye is just as black as can be. It looks like it hurts."
She touched it gingerly. "It must look awful. I finally get to put a dress back on, and now I've got a black eye! Honestly! And Daniel, you'd no business rushing out there like that. You're hurt! I could've taken him down. If I were just an inch taller, I could've got that rifle easy."
"Well, that's some thank-you for saving your life." He said leaning over and giving her a kiss. "I tell you what though, I'm tired." He said leaning back. "Let's you and me just sit here and rest for a bit, huh?"
"Too much adventure?" She asked him settling back and resting her sore head on his chest.
"I dunno about that, but I do feel like I've been chased by a panther clear across Kentucky. Cincinnatus is right, we just got home and already trouble found us. I sure hope I can sit here for five minutes without another disaster. Ain't you wore out? Becky?" But she was already asleep.
They were sound asleep in each other's arms when Mima checked on them just a few minutes later.