*Author's Note*
Thanks for all of the follows, faves, and reviews.
Time for another Moses centric chapter.
Round-up Time
Moses POV:
It was the blue hour of dusk and we were crounchin' 'hind some trees an' bushes that skirted the Hatfield property. The spiked barricades were up 'round the house, but no guards were outside. That struck me as odd.
"Where's the guards?" Asked Ransom as he was crouched next to me.
Bad Frank, who was on my other side, looked at Ransom while sayin', "I dunno."
"Maybe it's an ambush?" I asked, lookin' 'tween my boss and the deputy that were on either side of me.
"Could be." Bad Frank mused. He stood up, guns glutched in his hands, while announcin' in a loud whisper order, "Come on, men. Let's go, but be mindful of any guards hidin' in the tree line."
Quickly Bad Frank ran out of our hidin' spot, makin' a bee line to the Hatfield's main house. I followed hot on his heels, my own guns drawn. 'Hind me was Ransom and the other 20 or so men just got into line 'hind him. Once my boss reached the porch, he rushed up it and to the front door. As I came up 'hind him he kicked the door open, bustin' it wit' a loud snap.
The house was dark as we entered it. Bad Frank's face was shakin' wit' anger as he realized everyone had left. I was shocked since I was expectin' the Hatfields to be here. I noticed that plates littered the table, accomapnaied by a fruit basket and a break basket. Also there with a cook pot restin' on the stove.
Ranson grabbed a roll from the bread basket with one hand and tossed Jim an apple with the other while declarin', "Table's set an' food's on the stove." Goin' ov'r to the cookpot and dippin' his roll into the thing, Ransom suggested, "Reckon we wait til they get back."
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed that fine crumbs were on the table. That one small detail meant that the Hatfields had already et, but didn't clean the table. Then it suddenly dawned on me, the only reason they'd leave dirty dishes on the table is if their dinner was interrupted and they had to run for their lives.
I looked at Bad Frank only to have him nod at me, clearly seein' in my eyes that I figured out what happened just like he had. As Jim crunched on his apple, while Cal and Billy took what looked like cookies oout of a counter jar, Bad Frank barked, "They ain't comin' back, we got 'em on the run!" Faster then the blink of an eye, he overturned the large table. Everythin' on it crashed onto the floor, shatterin' and breakin'. Everyone looked startled as they stared at Bad Frank. "Come on, we got others t'catch." He seethed, marchin' out the front door.
Silently I followed him, causin' everyone else to exit the empty house too.
The only sound in the still night air was the heavy clunks an' falls of horses' hooves hittin' the road. Nobody said a word, most likely too lost in their own thoughts. I for one know that I was. The next house on the list I knew all too well since it was my sister's. God, I prayed that they weren't in there since I didn't want to arrest them.
As we stopped our horses a few yards from my sister's modest cabin I noticed that her wagon was missin' from its usual spot parked next to the barn. I took that as a miraculous sign that Cap too Nova and Anna away, off to where ever the hiddin' spot deep up in the hills was set up at. Silently, Bad Frank dismounted, causin' the rest of us to do the same.
Lookin' at me he whispered, "I know this is your sister's house so I'll let'cha deal with her and her lil girl." With a smirk he added in, "I'll put down Cap tho cause I doubt he's gonna go down without a fight."
I just silently nodded at my boss, pullin' out one of my guns while he pulled out both of his. Quickly, we made our way up to the front of the house. The rest of the posse followin' 'hind us, their feet scufflin' 'gainst the lush summer grass. Like with the main house, Bad Frank kicked the door open and walked right on side. I followed 'hind him only to see that the house was empty. As footsteps filled up the house, echoin' off the floorboards, I took in the scenery of the room I was in. Upon seein' the empty bookshelf near the fireplace I knew that Cap, Nova, and Anna were gone from Mate Creek.
"Boss, they're on the run too." I told Bad Frank, earnin' me a nod, while the others in the posse crowded to the kitchen lookin' to get samples of whatever was left on the stove durin' the rushed out run my sister an' her family did. Pointin' to the empty bookshelf I cemented my thought to my boss. "Books are missin' an' my sister's an avid reader."
"Cap Hatfield's family's on the run too." Bad Frank announced loudly, causin' everyone to look at him. "Time t'move down the list." The weasel in his black Stetson told the posse 'fore walkin' out the door. Once 'gain I followed the US Marshall/Sherriff out of the house, knowin' that eventually luck was gonna run out and somebody was gonna get caught.
The moon shined a silver-white glow and the stars twinkled gold an' silver hues in the dark blue velvet sky as I followed Bad Frank towards the porch of a small cabin. "Who lives here?" I whispered, comin' up to Bad Frank's side.
"Alex Messer's girlfriend, Elizabeth." He answered 'fore lookin' at me and quickly addin' with a smirk, "Miss Nancy told me he moved in he knocked her up. She got a brother that lives her too."
"Oh…" I nodded, lettin' my voice carry off into the wind like a feather.
Poor Alex, I didn't want to arrest him. He was a nice guy, but unfortunately he was too good of friends with Johnse, who spilled the beans to Nutty Nancy 'bout his where abouts.
Once we reached the porch I let Bad Frank take the lead. With a loud bang he kicked the door open, resultin' in a woman shriekin', "Alex, get up! Somebody busted in!"
"Alex Messer, deputies outta Pike County's 'ere to take ya in!" Bad Frank shouted as he walked right into the house.
As I entered the house, with the others followin' 'hind me, I saw Alex and Elizabeth exitin' their room, that was right off the kitchen, while a blonde man bounded downstairs wit' a pistol in his hand. Bad Frank aimed his gun at the man only for Alex to shout, "Stand down, Jo! He'll shoot if not!"
Jo, who quickly figured out was Elizabeth's brother, dropped his pistol. It fell to the floor with a clatter as he cut his eyes at Bad Frank, at all of us actually. Bad Frank pointed to him and ordered, "Get him, we'll bring him in wit' Messer." Lookin' at me while pointin' to Alex he said, "Get him an' shove him in the cage."
I just nodded 'fore goin' over to Alex. The dark-haired man with the young lookin' face just hung his head down and slumped his shoulders. "I'm sorry, I didn't know til it was too late." I whispered to Alex as I grabbed his arm, preparin' to take him out of the house.
"It's a'ight, Mo." Alex whispered back 'fore turnin' his head an' takin' a look at his girlfriend.
Jim and Ransom were draggin' Jo down the stairs and out the door as Bad Frank tipped his hat at Elizabeth. "Nite, Ma'am." He had the stones to tell the blonde 'fore walkin' out of the door.
Elizabeth's face was tremblin', showin' her heartbreak, as Alex and Jo were dragged out of the house and shoved into the paddy wagon like common criminals.
Sometime 'round 3-or-4 in the mornin' we managed to arrest Charlie, one of the lumber workers that was aligned with the Hatfield clan, at his cabin. Poor guy was dragged 'way from his screamin' wife and chil'ren in the wee hours of the night. That shook me, their shrill cries. God, I hated my job.
Now tho dawn had broken an' we were scattered in the trees surroundin' the crude cabin that French Ellis and Lark Varney lived in. A pair of horses were hitched up to the post on the side of the house while a pile of fresh cut wood was stacked 'gainst the house. 'Fore we could utter a word the door of the cabin opened and out stepped Lark, half dressed an' stretched while holdin' a cup of coffee. Bad Frank, who was next t'me, shot a bullet at the man, causin' him to scurry into the cabin.
"Lark Varney, French Ellis, come out an' surrender yourselves!" Bad Frank shouted, holdin' his hand up to signal that everyone hold their fire.
"Who're ya?" Asked Frenchie in a shout of his own as he peeked out the window.
"Special deputies and marshalls outta Pike County!" Bad Frank shouted back.
"Ransom Bray, that you?!" Frenchie asked 'fore confidently followin' it up with a shout of, "Hey, I know your sister RuthAnn from back home!"
"How'd ya know my sister?!" Ransom curiously shouted, causin' me to just roll my eyes. How did he think? Obviously, they were screwin' 'round.
Bad Frank lowered his hand, signalin' that we could open fire on the men that were holed up inside their cabin. I didn't want to shoot, but I had to since I was crouched down next to Bad Frank. I needed to keep up appearances and not shootin' while next t'him would raise suspicions.
In what felt like hours, but was really just minutes, bullets went flyin' thru the air from both the trees and the cabin. I felt a bit of fear as bullets whizzed by me, but all I could do was take cover 'hind my tree and shoot my guns at the cabin a few yards 'way.
Suddenly Frenchie shouted from within the cabin, "We're givin' up an' comin' out!" All of us quit our shootin' and watched the door to see if they really came out or not in a surrender. When the door flew open Lark stumbled out, a bloodstain on his gut, and aimed a shot at us. Suddenly the posse opened fire, killin' Lark and makin' Frenchie hide 'hind a tree. I noticed that he darted 'hind the tree that was near the hitch post, which was no abandoned since the horses broke free when the shootout started. "I'm givin' up my gun!" Frenchie declared in a shout 'fore tossin' it aside, where the posse could see it.
We stopped shootin', since Frenchie was unarmed. The man emerged from out 'hind the tree with his hands raised up in surrender. He looked like he just rolled outta bed when we arrived since he was in a dirty, hole riddled, union suit. "If I'd known ya'll were comin' I'd put on my Sunday best." Frenchie sarcastically said as me and Bad Frank stopped in front of him while the others started to emerge from their trees.
"Tell us where Devil Anse is an' ya won't have t'ride in the cage." Bad Frank offered since he just wanted to find out where the rest of my Hatfield family were at.
I gave Frenchie a silent look that read 'don't trust this bastard' right as Jim, Calvin, an' Billy rode up wit' the paddy wagon. Pointin' at the cage, Frenchie mused, "I see ya already got Alex an' Charlie, but that other feller I don't reckonize." Lookin' at my boss while twirlin' a finger, he asked, "So ya'll just roundin' up anybody these days?"
Bad Frank produced a piece of paper from his pocket while tellin' Frenchie, "All ya need'a know it this here warrant's got your name on it."
"How d'ya know my sister?" Ransom asked in a forceful tone as he went right up to Frenchie and got into his face.
"Oh, hell, everyone that goes thru Bluford gets a pork job from RuthAnne Bray." Frenchie smirked at Ransom, in so many words callin' the greasy haired man's sister his whore.
'Fore I could even blink Ranson raised his arm, cocked his gun, and shot Frenchie dead 'tween the eyes. Oh shit… With a proud look on his face the deputy put his gun way. "Made on remark too many."
"Why'd ya do that for?! He was takin' us to Devil Anse!" Shouted Bad Frank, his beady eyes shinin' with pure rage, as he snapped his head to look at the dumb deputy.
"Hell, he don't know where Hatfield is." Ranson scoffed 'fore pointin' at Frenchie's corpse an' addin', "French Ellis was always a big fat liar."
Closin' the distance 'tween him an' Ransom, Bad Frank asked in a low hiss. "How'd ya know him?" Yea, I'd like to know that too.
"We went t'school 'gether the one year I went." Was the slow talkin' deputy's answer.
"What? Kindergarten?" I scoffed, shakin' my head at the man.
Bad Frank pulled his gun out of his holster and placed the barrel to Ransom's forehead. "I don't put up wit' shit. Never repeat a mistake twice, or your dead."
"I-I understand, won't happen 'gain, boss." Ransom trembled, his face whiter then a sheet floatin' on a clothesline.
Placin' his gun back into his holster, Bad Frank announced to the posse, "From now on we do this politc, no more trial justice." Lookin' at everyone he asked, "Ya hear me?" Silently everyone nodded, myself included. "I'm gonna run for sheriff one day." Bad Frank announced, lettin' everyone know that he planned on makin' his special sheriff anointin' a permanent voted in one. Pattin' me on the shoulder he smirked, "And you'll be my personal deputy."
Ah, great, just what I gotta look forward to next year… "Sounds good, boss." I lied thru my teeth as I watched both Frenchie and Lark's dead bodies bein' collected from the ground.
"Come on, we got one more house t'get to." Bad Frank said 'fore walkin' off towards where the horses were safely tied up.
Fallin' into step next to him I asked, "Who we goin' after?"
"Plyont Mahon." Was the simple reply I got. Oh no, he was a son-in-law to Judge Wall. I knew vaguely that he was married to a daughter from his first marriage, one of the older ones. Shit, if we're goin' after him then it's only gonna be a matter of time 'fore we venture into Boone to try an' hunt down my cousin, Sawyer.
After arrivin' back in town, Bad Frank tasked the McCoy boys with lockin' the prisoner and he sent Ransom to help them. The rest of the deputized posse went on their merry way while Bad Frank and me went to report Uncle Perry at his office. My boss slung the door open, nearly knockin' the door chime off, and marched right on in. My uncle startled slightly, jumpin' in his skin at his desk an' snappin' his head up t'see Bad Frank an' me hot on his heels approachin' his desk. Senator Billings was calmer and more collected, sittin' on the leather sofa with his legs crossed and the paper in his hands. He just looked over the paper's edge at us, one of his brows arched curiously.
"Devil Anse Hatfield's house was empty, so was your neice's." Bad Frank announced, ploppin' down in the chair 'cross from my uncle's desk.
"They're on the run?" Uncle Perry asked, makin' a scrunched-up look with his face, as I took the open seat next to my boss.
"Yep." I popped my tongue. Leanin' back into my chair and proppin' my boots onto the desk, earnin' me a wide-eyed look from my uncle, I remarked, "Seems like they ran off right 'fore we got there, cause crumb-coated plates were on the tables and cookpots on the stoves."
"Well, this makes things more difficult." My uncle sighed, soundin' a bit defeated.
Bad Frank's longs scrapin' voice confidently sounded out with, "We got 'em on the run like jacket rabbits. Sooner or later they'll slip up an' we'll find 'em."
"They're on the run cause somebody tipped them off." Spoke up the senator, his nose buried in his newspaper. Turnin' his page he added, "And it's most likely a lady that warned them too."
Bad Frank tilted his head at the politician. "Why'd a say that, Senator?"
"A woman never wants to see any harm fall onto her man. She'll help or warn him if she can." Senator Billings told Bad Frank, never takin' his eyes off the page he was readin'.
"I think it's just a coincidence that they ran off." Uncle Perry waved off his friend's theory. Sittin' up straighter 'hind his desk, my uncle stated in a firm know-it-all tone, "The women at the McCoys for dinner last night are loyal. Jenny Lou's Parris' widow and Sarah's Jefferson's widow while Mariah's friendship's buddin' into the beginin's of young courtin' with Billy."
Oh my god, somehow Mariah managed to get a warnin' to the Hatfields. I don't know how she did it, but she did. Like Senator Billings said, Mariah would never sit back and let somethin' bad happen t'Robert E. if she felt she could help him. Next time I see her I'm gonna be havin' a long talk with that girl an' findin' out how she pulled it off.
AN:
Next chapter will go back to Nova's POV. Oh, poor Moses stuck doing a job he hates.
