Chapter 10

Candy, Julie, and Abby were heading back to the farm. They had a lovely afternoon and since Abby wanted to check on things back at the house they decided to all go back and enjoy the rest of their time together. As they approached the farmhouse, they saw someone in front of the building. Abby saw most of her possessions on a wagon and saw someone coming out of her house with what looked like a small box. Candy shook the reigns and the horses hurried to the house.

Abby got down immediately and ran to the person who was ready to through a burning stick into her home. Without a word she ran up to him and knocked the stick to the ground. He was surprised at first but hurriedly bent over to pick it up. Abby kicked him in the behind and he fell onto the flames of the stick. He screamed and would have jumped up but for a foot on his back.

"Who are you and why are you getting ready to burn my house? The house my parent's built!?" said Abby furious while Candy held him down with her foot. She was also holding her baby as well.

"I don't know what you are talking about?" the man said. I was told to burn this abandoned house down after we salvaged the things from inside. Can you please take your foot off of my back!" he said.

Abby looked at Candy and she took her foot off his back. He stood up. Julie took a look at him and saw that he had inadvertently put the fire out with his chest. But the only burn marks were superficial so they decided that he would not need medical attention. Abby noticed another man who was standing off in the distance. He was familiar but it looked like he was tied up.

"Hello, ladies, may I help you, a man on a horse came up. He got off the horse and with a slimy smile tipped his hat. Another man came around the corner holding his gun at the ready. Abby, Candy, and Julie looked at each other. Candy needed to get back to the wagon so she went back there with the baby. Julie stayed by Abby for support.

"Now you ladies went and disturbed my workers!" the man said as he stood in front of the ladies.

"Let me introduce myself, I am J P Monroe, Head of the Monroe Depot Co. And am here to take possession of your farm. In fact, you have no home that I can see. We plan to burn down this house and set up a mining operation. I did aske the boys to make sure they took your possessions out before we burned the house down. But I must say my kindness has not been rewarded! You stopped my man from starting the fire! For that you may have to pay me for it!

Candy had put the baby in the wagon and moved the rifle so she could grab it if she needed to. Behind the house some more men came out. It seemed as if the ladies were in a bit of trouble.

"Now, Miss Beason, I would like you to go over by your wagon and make sure we got everything because it is time for us to finish this business.!" Mr. Monroe said as he took Abby's arm and Julie's arm and moved them over by the wagon. Candy was by the other wagon and a man came up behind her. Abby protested and said to Mr. Monroe:

" I was led to believe that I had until the end of July! I am awaiting paperwork that will prove that I do have a deed and it is my name!" Abby struggled to get loose from his grasp. But he only held on tighter and said:

"Miss Beason, you cannot have the deed to this land, by rights only a man can own land here! It is in the civil code. My lawyer Mr. Eli Martin has it and will be here shortly to refute your claims! So, if you will take a seat here on your wagon, I took the liberty of purchasing a wagon for your supplies and a horse to help you leave. One of his men, grabbed Candy and pointed his gun at her. He then had his man take Abby and Julie to the other wagon where two men with guns stood at the ready. It seemed that they would not survive if they fought. Candy looked at Julie who looked at Abby. They gave each other support that best they could. The baby cried and Candy picked her up. The man with the gun standing closest to her was fine since he felt that she would not run while holding the baby.

The hot sun beat down. The baby was getting too hot. Candy was worried for her baby. Julie and Abby stood together and held each other for comfort. There was a loud explosion behind the barn which caused the ladies to fall to the ground. Candy had put the baby in the wagon and grabbed the rifle. The man who had thought that she would be no problem was surprised as she hit him with the butt of the rifle. Then taking the baby out of the wagon while still holding the rifle she took one more look at the man sprawled on the ground. Smiling she thought: "Well, no one messes with a mother bear!" and quickly ran over to the other ladies.