A New Beginning

Prologue... Not much sex as they complete the transition into next phase off their new life, but more to come!

I was looking past the four men at the kids and the house when I heard the buzzing hum and crack of a high velocity bullet pass close by. The leader of the little gang dropped like a sack of corn, his head exploding in a pink mist. The sound of the shot rolled by a fraction of a second later. There were two more quick shots which took down two of the remaining three. The last one dropped his shotgun and threw up his hands in surrender.

It didn't do him any good. A round hit him low in his belly. He dropped and lay there screaming.

I spun around and saw a small group of the men at the edge of camp. They were carrying rifles.

I looked at JT, "Get that wounded one patched up. We need to know who sent them."

I ran toward the kids who were sitting up now, looking around in confusion.

I snatched Sophie up and looked her over. Then Tommy. The blast had knocked them down, but they weren't seriously hurt. I picked Sophie back up and trotted to the house, Tommy close behind.

Bursting through the door, I saw Elsie tied up to a chair. I ran toward her and pulled out my pocket knife and cut her loose. She jumped up and hugged me, then turned to the kids.

"Elsie, pack y'alls bags and meet me outside."

I turned to the stairs and went to the closet and got the money. I took it out to the truck and went over to JT and the wounded man.

JT looked at me, "He ain't got much to say."

I looked down at him. The bullet had hit him just above his belly button and blew out his back. I knew he wasn't long for this world.

The anger hit me then. A dark, smouldering hatred. This man had invaded the sanctity of my home and attacked my family. He deserved what he got.

"Help me, please, I'm dying!", he gasped.

The shock was setting in now. His brain overriding the pain.

"Who hired you? Give me that name and you'll get treatment. Otherwise, you lay there and bleed out."

"Please! Help me! I'll tell you everything I know."

I looked at JT and nodded. He turned to a younger hand standing there and told him,

"Go fetch Doc."

The man turned and sprinted back to camp. He returned a few minutes later with an older man carrying a black suitcase.

I turned to JT as the man went to work.

JT sensing a question, said,

"Doc Gilmer. He was a battlefield surgeon in the war."

I nodded, satisfied. I heard the door open and slam shut. Elsie was coming out with the kids.

JT saw her struggling and told the gathered men,

"Y'all go help her! Ain't nothing here for you to do."

He turned back to me,

"Well, son, what you want to do about this?"

I looked toward the barn. My cows and mules were laying there. Senselessly killed. For no good reason I could wrap my head around. I shifted my gaze to the wounded man. He was eyeing me pretty hard about then.

I'm not sure why, but I held no serious anger toward him. I figure he was just doing what his employer paid him to do.

I knelt down beside him. I could see the raw fear in his eyes. Mixed with the pain of being gut shot.

I rubbed my face with my calloused hand, then spoke to him.

"Who hired you?"

He looked at the one that had spoken.

"Him."

"So, you don't know who was paying the bills?"

He shook his head,"

"Some big shot down to Houston. That's all I know. Exceptin' he wanted to have his way with your woman. The rest of us wouldn't stand for it. I tried to talk him out of blowin' up the barn. That was a damn fine ol' barn. I tried to get the stock out, but he done lit the fuse and it was a mighty short fuse. I'll tell ya true, I may be alot of things that amount to no account, but my ol' pa taught me the value of good stock, and those looked to be as fine as they come.

He coughed and squeezed his eyes shut from the pain. Then looked back up at me.

"I reckon I'm gonna die here. Reckon I deserve it. But, I'll say this, I'm sorry for that mess. Truly I am."

I nodded at him.

"You got any kin we can fetch for you?"

"No, my bother died in the war. My folks passed on some years back."

" We'll see if we can save you.."

"No. I'm at the end of my trail here..."

His voice faded off and he died staring at the barn.

I looked around.

"I'd appreciate it if some of y'all would bury them."

Looking to JT, "A word?"

He nodded and stepped off, me following. After we made a dozen steps, I spoke up.

"You still interested in buying me out?"

"If you're still selling, I'll take it. I've got the two million cash for your partnership share sitting in the bank down in Galveston with the set up to have your royalty share wired in every month. I need the deeds and however much for the land. I'll have that wired in as soon as we reach a number. Oh, I ain't forgot about that co-op and the deal with all these folks. I got a couple men to bring down from Dallas for the co-op. They know how to run such things. They've been handling stock and grain deals up at the Stock Yards a long time and have the contacts to ship and market. They run a clean operation. No back handed bullshit."

"Ok, let's get it done. The deeds are in the safe with the bills of sale. Let's go get it. I need you to take me down there to Galveston. I don't know how to get there."

"Ok then."

He looked up at the house and the men were securing the bags in the truck under the watchful eye of Elsie.

I looked at the dead men.

"What you gonna do with them?"

He chuckled,

"Don't worry about that, I've got it figured out."

I shrugged. That was good enough for me. I stuck my hand out and he took it. A glint of sadness was lying underneath his hard gaze.

"Boy, I'm gonna miss working with you. It's been a ride, that's for sure."

I nodded and released his hand. I guess truth be told, I was gonna miss all this, too. But, I've got a family to care for and I didn't intend on having them dragged into a war with God only knows who.

We headed up to the house and went inside. I took him up the ladder and showed him the guns and such up there.

He gawked around in wonder.

"Sweet baby Jesus, boy, where'd you get all this firepower?"

"Hank done all this. I dunno where he got it all, but I figure you may need it before this is over with."

He shook his head, walking around checking out the heavy machine guns.

"I fought through the war and my outfit never had weapons like this."

I started back down the ladder, he followed, and went to the hidden closet under the stairs. We put my money on the table. Two big bags worth. I figured close to half a million or so. I gave him the combination to the safe and retrieved the deeds and bills of sale and went to the table.

He was going through the numbers, figuring his cost for the land. We heard the door open and Elsie came in, followed by the pair of men that had been helping her.

I took out a pair of $100 bills and handed them to the men. Hank spoke up.

"You men go round up that bunch of bodies and haul them down to the river. Make sure they sink. Don't need 'em floating around down river, spooking some kids or women down there."

"Yes sir."

They tipped their hats to Elsie, nodded at me, and left as quietly as they came in.

I turned to Hank,

"Look, don't worry about that. Just wire in however much you figure's fair on the land. I know you're good for it."

He looked at me a long minute before responding.

"Alright then. I'll get it done."

I stood up and looked over at Elsie,

"You ready? We'll stop for the baby and tell mama what's going on."

She nodded and stood up with a grimace.

I grabbed the money and we headed outside. The kids were already in the bed, snuggled down among the bags. I slid the money down between a couple of suit cases, and got in the truck. Elsie was already situated.

JT was walking down to the camp to get his truck, so I cranked up and headed to the gate, sitting there waiting on him.

He pulled out and I fell in behind him and off we went. We stopped at the store and found the women sitting out on the bench. The baby was crawling around in a makeshift pen on the grass.

I got out and they were looking between me and the trucks.

I went and sat down between Callie and mama. Maggie drug a chair around a sat so she could see me.

"I sold out to JT. We're headed down to Galveston."

I told them what happened out at the place.

Callie stood up with a start. Her eyes wide and mouth set with anger.

"Those sons of bitches! Endangering them babies! They blew up the barn, you say?"

I nodded.

"Hank sure was proud of that old barn..." Her voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry Callie. I never figured on this."

"It's ok, son, I know you didn't."

"I signed a contract to see you through. I'll honor it. It just can't be out there."

She nodded. "I figured as much. No, I'll stay here with Maggie. But, mind you, I may change my mind later."

"Well, if you do, come on down, you'll have all you need."

She stepped over, bent down and put her hands on my cheeks and kissed me softly. Her tongue just tickling my lips. Then she sat back down.

I looked at mama.

"What do you want to do?"

She stood up and went and picked up the baby, then looked at me.

"You're my man, I'm going with you."

She looked over a Maggie.

"Will you get his bag, please?"

Maggie went inside and came out with an old carpet bag containing his diapers and clothing. She handed it to me.

She looked at me a long moment. Her eyes sparkling in the coming twilight.

"Honey, you think I have a place down there, too?"

"Why, I reckon so. If you've of a mind to come. I'd be glad to have you. What about the store?"

She looked over at JT. He was still sitting in his truck, chomping on a big cigar.

She walked over and got in. Looking over at him, she asked,

"You've a mind to buy me out, too? My shares, the store and all?"

He chomped on that cigar a little more, then looked over at her.

"I'll say this. I'd truly be pleased to. I'm short of free cash right now, though. I mean, after I paid Jake off, and all."

"Oh, that's ok. You can pay me later. I'm not hurting."

He nodded.

"Well, how's an even million sound?"

She stuck out her hand, he took it, sealing the deal.

Getting out, she headed over to Callie.

"Looks like we're headed down to the coast tomorrow."

Callie just shrugged.

"Sounds fine by me."

I got up and headed over to JT's truck.

"Can mama ride with you?"

"Sure thing. Have her get in."

"Hang on a sec."

I looked over at Maggie.

"Maggie, come here a minute!"

"JT, tell her where we're going."

He gave her directions and the address, then we took off.

It was late that night before we hit the bridge to the island. We drove a ways on in and came to stop at a big blue house on the beach. The moon was full and the moonlight was glistening across the ocean.

I've never seen so much water before. JT lead us in and showed us around a little. He handed me the keys.

"Well son, she's all yours. I'm headed over to the hotel. I'll be back afterwhile and I'll show you around town. Get you set up down at the bank and all."

I shook his hand. Me and mama got the kids settled in. Elsie was already stretched out in the big old claw foot tub, taking a bath. It had been a hard ride for her and she needed to settle a bit.

I unloaded the bags and boxes, then took mama by the hand and walked down to the beach. The smell of the salt water was comforting. The light breeze blowing in just seemed to make everything alright.

"Sure is pretty, ain't it son?" Mama squeezed my hand as she spoke to me.

"Yes it is. It most certainly is. Makes a man feel mighty small."

I put my arm around her and pulled her close. My eyes were getting heavy after the long day.

"Well, let's go inside, we got a long day ahead in the morning."

"Awww, and here I was hoping for a good fuckin' on this beach."

"Now mama, ain't no call for you acting like some shameless floozy. That pussy of yours will keep til tomorrow. I've been through the wringer today."

She just huffed a bit, reached up and kissed me. Then we headed in.

Elsie was already stretched out and asleep. I undressed and slid in next to her. I put my hand on her belly and drifted off to sleep with the baby kicking against my palm.

Morning came all to quick. I was up and dressed before the sun popped up over the horizon.

Mama was in the kitchen feeding the baby some oatmeal. She had coffee on. I poured myself a big mug, kissed her, then walked out on the porch. It was a big affair. Extending about ten feet out from the house. The roof covered it all. I sat down in a big wooden chair and sipped my coffee. I listened to the sounds. Shore birds, and gulls were coming alive. I didn't know what they were though. I heard automobiles going by on the road out front. People getting ready for a day of life's work.

I stared off over the ocean, thinking. This was all new to me. Back yonder, I had chores and work. Here, I had no purpose I could lay my hands to.

I was a rich man by all means. So, I wasn't feeling any pressure to find a job. I'd talk to JT and feel him out about my possibilities hereabouts. Rich or not, a man had need to work. To make use of himself. Mayhap I might find a business or enterprise of sorts to get into.

Mama came out holding the baby. He was wide eyed and staring around. Behind her came Sophie. She crawled up on my lap and snuggled her head into my chest, sucking her thumb.

I absently stroked her long blonde hair as I watched the sun start to peek up over the horizon. The first time I ever saw such a sight. Out on the water, I saw some big ol' boats headed out. They had all these poles and such sticking out.

I thought of Mercedes, wondering where she lived at. I'm sure I could find her by asking at the bank. They always knew everybodies business. It'd be good to see her.

I heard a vehicle pull up out front. That'd be JT. I'm sure he was ready to get this day started. He had business to tend to back up yonder.

I got up and carried Sophie in and laid her on a big couch and went out front.

JT was headed up the walkway when I came out.

"Come on in."

He sat at the table and I poured him some coffee. Sophie came in and crawled back up on my lap.

The kids had talked about what happened. I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. I guess time will tell.

JT sipped his coffee before speaking up.

"Well son, what ya think so far?"

"I like it. I truly do. It's not like anything I've ever seen before."

He nodded as I took a sip of my coffee.

"I need to ask you some things."

He looked up at me, eyebrows raised.

"I've always had a job of work to do. What am I gonna do with myself here?"

"Well, Jake, I thought about that last night some. Here's what I come up with. I know a right smart bunch of folks around here. Many of them have some sort of business or other. Might be you could buy one out. Hell, maybe several. You've got money now. That gives you options. After we get done at the bank, I'll take you around to a couple. Kinda get your feet wet, so to speak. Good folks."

He chuckled,

"Oh, there's some around I wouldn't trust no further'n I could throw 'em. But, I ain't worried about you. You got a head for business like none I ever seen before. You'll settle in just fine."

Elsie came down and kissed me and Sophie, greeted JT, and refilled our cups, then poured her own and went outside. Tommy came down then. He sat down, rubbing his eyes looking around for his mama. He looked at me,

"Where's mama?"

"Out on the porch, son."

He nodded and went out.

JT spoke up,

"It's a deck."

I looked at him, unsure what he meant, or was even talking about.

"Huh?"

"The porch. It's not a porch. It's called a deck."

"Oh, ok."

I was still confused. But chose to leave it alone.

"JT, back up yonder, your men, the ones who shot those other men. How did they act so fast?"

"Jake, that's what they were hired for. To do what they did. Not everybody that works for me is a roughneck. We need security people to. Men willing to do the killing that needs done."

Now, that made sense to me. Anyway...

It was daylight and getting later.

"Jake, we need to get you some clothes. You can't be wandering around in those overalls. It just don't go with the idea of your financial status."

"My fi... My what?"

Back to confused again.

"Boy, you're rich now. Going places. People here don't understand the ways of men like you. The way you were brought up. Here, it's all about perceptions. A handshake to seal a deal works for men like us. It's how we were raised. These people don't understand that."

I nodded. Letting my head wrap around that notion.

"Anyhow, I know a feller here in town that'll get you saddled up in some appropriate duds."

"Ok, JT, I'll take your word for that."

He looked at his pocket watch, and checked it against the clock on the wall, and fiddled with it.

I looked up at the clock. I felt shame. I didn't know how to read it. I couldn't tell time. The only time I understood was when the sun came up, you went to work. When it went down, you went to the house. Simple as that.

He seemed to sense something wrong.

"What's the matter, son? You look like you got a bur under your saddle."

I figured honesty was the best course of action. Hell, I always did. No need to change that now.

"I can't tell time. Can't read them clocks. Never learned how."

"Aw hell, son, that ain't nothing to fret over. You can read, write, and do your arithmetic. Learnin' how to figure that ain't no chore."

He set about explaining how it worked. In about an hour, I had it figured out.

He took off his pocket watch and handed it to me.

"Here, I want you to have this. It belonged to my pap and grandpap before him. I ain't got no young'uns to pass it on to besides my daughter, and she wouldn't appreciate it nohow, so, you take it."

I held it and looked it over real careful. He showed me how to wind it, set it and such. I'll tell you, I was mighty proud about then.

He stood up,

"Well, young man, let's go get you situated around here."

About then, a noise about made me jump out of my boots. A loud ring filled the room. I spun around, fists balled up, ready to fight whatever it was. I located the source of the offending sound. It was coming out of a strange looking contraption sitting on a little side table by the doorway. I'd noticed it before and had intended on investigating it further, but got side tracked.

It rang again, but I just stared at it. JT chuckled and walked over to it and picked up a part of it and held it to the side of his head, then spoke.

"JT Morgan speaking."

Then he was quiet for a moment.

"Charles! How the hell are you?"

Another pause, then,

"Yep, I'm bringing him in after while. Got another stop to make first."

Pause.

"You bet. Ok, see you in a bit. Bye."

He looked back at me,

"That was the bank. I take it you've never been aquainted with a telephone either?"

"No sir. I guess I ain't."

"Well, I reckon it's about time you were."

So, my education continued. Another short while later I could pick that thing up and make a call. Damned, but I ain't never seen the like.

We headed out. I told the women where we were going.

I looked around in wonder at everything. Buildings of all sorts. Vehicles everywhere. I've never seen so many at once.

Our first stop was a little brick shop. We went inside and a small statured man greeted us with a smile before he cast a critical look at my clothing. He ticked his tongue, frowned, and shook his head.

"Oh my, but that just won't do. No siree, that just won't do."

He pointed to a doorway covered in a curtain,

"Young man, go in there and take those dreadful things off. Then come stand over there, on that pedestal."