Disclaimer: I make no claims to the characters in the following story. I recieve no money or other recompense from these writings. they are intended solely for the purposes of entertainment
Illusions of the Past
knoteach
The name Harvest Hills might for some bring to mind rolling hills and fruit orchards or some such similar pleasant sight, but in reality, the town of Harvest Hills was just like any other New Mexico territory frontier town with dusty dirt streets and clap board buildings. It was to this town Buck and Ezra were sent on an errand for Judge Travis. There wasn't much to it; they were to deliver some papers to the bank, then return to Four Corners, the whole thing taking less than a day.
Buck and Ezra had finished their job and had stopped at the saloon for a drink before heading out. It was a hot day and both were thirsty. While there, they couldn't help but over hear a man proclaiming loudly that it wasn't right for a black woman to own a shop.
Buck and Ezra immediately knew who the man was speaking of since Judge Travis had kept them informed about the towns surrounding Four Corners, including any strange happenings and noteworthy events. The murder of the freedman that had owned the local grocery had been dealt with, but the man's widow was now running the shop and people were a little unsettled. This man however went passed vaguely uncomfortable and was airing his opinion loudly and publicly.
Buck could tell that Ezra was getting angry quickly, but he told him to try to ignore the man. Buck saw Ezra swallow a sharp comment he wanted to make, but Buck turned away and went back to his drink. But when he heard the man quite confidently declare that the only place for a colored woman was on her back, he started to turn and set the man straight. Before he could move he heard the man croak and turned to see that Ezra had the man by the throat was dealing with him quite well
"I take great offence at those remarks," Ezra growled at the red faced cowboy in his grip who was struggling for breath. Shaking the man hard, he continued. "If I ever hear anything of a similar vile nature from you again, I will quite happily beat you within an inch of you life." Ezra then leaned closer and whispered something that Buck couldn't hear, but whatever it was caused the odious man to go limp in Ezra grasp and his eyes to grow to the size of saucer plates.
Ezra then flung the man away to land on his ass on the wooden floor. Ezra looked at the man with cold eyes full of disgust, anger, and, to Buck's surprise, hatred. Buck had never seen Ezra so enraged. Buck took a step back when Ezra turned to glare at everyone else in the saloon that had been sitting listening to the man. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Ezra raised his eyes and caught Buck's gaze. Nodding to Buck, he then turned and strode swiftly from the saloon.
Buck quickly finished his drink and got to the livery just in time to see Ezra gallop out of the town as if all the demons of hell were on his tail. Buck hurriedly saddled his horse and rode out after him. He found Ezra waiting for him about a mile outside of town. When Buck came up beside him and they started out for Four Corners, Ezra didn't say a word. He just kept himself at parade attention with his eye straight ahead.
"What the hell was that all about?" Buck asked after they were a mile or so farther down the road.
Ezra remained silent for a couple of minutes before saying, "I once knew of similar circumstances where no one stood up for the woman in question. The situation was not resolved in so agreeable a manner." Ezra's voice was very stiff, as if he had to force himself to say the words.
"What happened?" Buck pressed, hoping Ezra would confide in him exactly what was bothering him so badly.
Again Ezra was silent, and Buck was about to ask again when he finally said, so quietly that Buck almost missed it. "She and almost her entire family were murdered two days later by the same men."
Buck pulled back on his reins in shock. Ezra let his horse take a few steps farther before stopping and looking back at Buck, his face the bland, blank mask that Buck had come to know meant that Ezra considered the subject closed and would not be revealing anything more. Understanding that some things are better left as they are, Buck simply maneuvered his horse up beside Ezra and they started off for Four Corners again. The rest of the ride was made in total silence, neither of them saying one more word.