Ending of Part 1:
"Go ahead and shuck that rifle," the voice said. "My pistol is holstered; you could probably get me before I could draw."
Clement knew better. "No thanks. I'll need it for protection though, as I ride out of here and out of state. I'll never see you again."
"If we do see each other again, it will be the last time. And don't think about stopping somewhere out in the brush and shooting into the crowd. We're posting sentries, and they will shoot on sight."
"Wouldn't think of it. I'm not much, but I'd never shoot into a crowd with women and children.
And Silas, the girl: she didn't know. I kept a low profile around her. She was just using me to make you jealous, which is something I'm not used to. I'm usually lucky with the ladies, but this time I shot snake eyes. Go gentle on her; she's still young."
With that he rode way, both hands on the reins. Silas and the crowd watched him ride over the hill. Samuel patted Silas on the shoulder, "I'll watch from the barn until he's out of sight over the last hill. Want me to stay and keep watch after that?"
"No, Sam, just until he's over the hills, but thanks for offering. I believe him when he says we'll never see him again."
Sam scrambled up into the loft, and Silas turned back to the lingering crowd. "You came here from all over the country, and my family and friends have been cooking for days. Let's put his behind us and enjoy each other. We have a lot to celebrate, and I appreciate each and every one of you coming. Now, let's go back and have a party!"
They turned en mass and began jabbering among themselves. His dad and Ben Wallace clasped him on the shoulders, and Ben assured him, "You did good. Handled that as well as it could be, and rid the state of a scoundrel at the same time. Now YOU need to come enjoy YOUR celebration!"
He took three steps between the two men before they encountered Gwen and a very contrite Lilly. "Silas, she needs to talk to you for a moment. Will you allow a foolish girl that opportunity, please?"
He sighed deeply, but the combination of Gwen's pleading look and Lilly's tear stained but breathtakingly beautiful face was too much to turn down. He turned and stood in front of Lilly, whose eyes were still downcast.
Gwen joined the two men and they walked away, leaving them alone, but the center of attention.
"Silas, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't know who he was! He was just a big, handsome man that all the girls and women fluttered around, giggling about him being a 'bad boy'. I honestly had no idea he was a criminal! Please..."
Silas placed his crooked forefinger under her chin and brought it up so that she was looking into his face. "Lilly, I believe you. Nonetheless, your lack of judgement put yourself and others at risk. What made you do that? Were you trying to show all of us what a... social maven you've become? Being in the company of such a man -- who is at least fifteen years older than you -- tarnishes your reputation and calls your character into question."
She burst into tears again and fled around the crowd to the guesthouse she and her parents were staying. Silas stood, confused by her response to his softly spoken, if direct, words. He saw disapproving looks on the faces of his sisters, his mother, and her mother, who followed her daughter to their quarters.
"Got a lot left to learn about the women of the species, son," said Bigfoot Wallace as he approached the Rangers, his dad, and uncle. "You're mighty good with outlaws and scoundrels, though!"
Uncle Lonnie put his arm around his nephew's shoulders and quietly said, "I'm sure before the night is over she, her momma, or your sister is going to tell you what she's been up to. Just understand: no matter how she looks and acts, she's still an eighteen year-old girl, which is about as difficult as anything can be. To make it even more difficult, she was her Daddy's princess. When he was killed, she trained all that emotion on the one who saved her and her Momma, and got revenge on Daddy's killers too.
Like it or don't, you two have a special bond, and, even when she makes a big mistake like she did this weekend, remember that HER ultimate goal is to turn that special bond into a matrimonial bond. If you don't want that," he concluded a grin, "I suggest you might also want to try Californi, because she's relentless!"
All four of the men laughed; he smiled and shook his head. "I'm afraid the University education we're celebrating today may not have fully prepared me for situations like this. Anybody have advice?"
They all chuckled again, and Ben answered, "What advice does a young man need when the most beautiful girl in fourteen counties is chasing him? On top of being beautiful, one of her teachers told me she's the smartest girl they've had at Ursuline Academy in many years, and we all know she can charm a coon out of a tree. My advice? Either buy a ring, or follow Lonnie's advice!"
"Would you men quit gabbing and get the meat cut up?" Silas' mom asked with an air of exasperation. "Looks plenty done, and we've got everything ready to load the serving table, except the meat!"
They shouted 'yes, mam!' and did as they were told. Within fifteen minutes they were ready for the blessing, which Preacher Robbinson did for another five minutes. They lined up by family, and everyone loaded their plate and found a place to sit. The kids tended to break off and sit on the steps or porch of the house so the adults could sit at the tables.
A subdued but impeccably made-up Lilly returned to eat with her family. There was enough room at their table that Kathleen and Mary Jane sat with her after they finished serving. The plates were full to overflowing, but there were a lot of seconds served anyway, and even those who proclaimed they couldn't eat another bite found room when the myriad desserts were brought out.
Silas had read about French meals lasting for hours when the extended family got together, and, for the first time, he understood.
After an hour and a half, Silas was suggesting they get started on the clean up when Ben Wallace climbed on a bench under the big oak and called for attention in a booming voice. When some on the outer fringes didn't hear, Bigfoot roared to be quiet, and that did the trick.
"We're here to honor a young man we all know and are proud to know, Mister Silas Carr, in recognition of his recently-earned university degree. Let's start with a round of applause for him, and then we can get about the business of telling tales about our young friend!"
The applause ended when Silas finally rose to acknowledge it, nod, and say thank you to the assembly.
Ben resumed. "Most of you folks are familiar with his exploits in this area of God's Country. The run in with Josiah Hays and his two cronies after the murder of Professor Thomson and the kidnapping of his wife, Gwen." He nodded toward Gwen, who waved.
"Josiah's daddy, ol' One-Armed Elijah, took offense and brought his gang right here, demanding they turn over the one who ambushed his son. All the menfolk were with me, off hunting him and the rapists Silas had already killed.
Silas faced him down, then shot him down when he wouldn't relent. These good people here took care of the gang when the shooting started, and the only survivor was the son, Jefferson, who refused to engage in a fight with boys and women. He is now one of Silas' best friends, and only missed this gathering because he is on his honeymoon down in Mexico!"
There was loud applause again, and it would not end until Silas stood up, raised his hands, and said, "I didn't do more when the Hays Gang came here than Samuel, over there, or my momma, sisters, and brother, or the other women, girls, and boys who stood their ground. Everyone did their job, and they were courageous and resolute, as was Miss Lilly Thomson, who was only fourteen at the time we faced Josiah Hays and his gunhands. She is a dead shot with her rifle, and to this day, we don't know which of us killed Josiah. Doesn't matter: she was courageous and resolute and bossy that whole day!"
The last part about bossy drew a laugh, and Gwen stood up. "My turn. Yes, my daughter was bossy that day, because she goes after something when she wants it, and she always believes her way is the right way!"
After the laughter died down, and Lilly's blush receded, Gwen said, "As it turned out, she was right about where they were holding me, and her certitude got Silas there at just the right time to save me. I can thank her and Silas for being alive.
But there's another part of the story you probably don't know. That part happened in Dogtown when we went in to get supplies and leave the bodies of the outlaws with the sheriff."
From the back a man yelled, "Oh, I was there at the General Store, and I'll back up the story she's agonna tell, even though it sounds unlikely!"
"Thank you, John! You're right: it does seem unlikely that an 18 year-old man would face down a hardened killer with two tied-down guns, but when he called Silas a liar and backshooter, that is exactly what happened! In fact, Silas exhibited a restraint that is unusual in anyone of any age that day. The gunhand grabbed the handle of his pistol, but he was looking down the barrel of a drawn gun. Silas could have shot him, and no one would have questioned it. But he just made him drop his guns and walk away."
John stood up in back and yelled, "Fastest draw I've ever seen, and that old Peacemaker was dead steady in his hand! Ol' Clyde knew he was a dead man, and like Missus Gwen says, most people would of killed him, but Silas just let him look down that barrel at death and made him drop his gunbelts. He's a legend over to Dogtown!"
