Seven of us went into the kitchen and sat around the table. Besides myself, there was Jason, Paul, Richard, David, Jimmy and, oddly enough his brother, James. I began laying out my plan. I wanted Paul to stay at the house with a picked team of his brothers to protect the girls, especially Karen in light of Frank’s threat, in case we were wrong about Frank’s plans. Paul argued strongly until I explained to him the importance of protecting the family, plus the chance that Frank might still show up.
“Jason, we need two more for my plan. Do you have any suggestions? I would prefer not to have any of Sharon’s sons. I want everyone to be clear headed when we are there”.
“Tom would be good and Sam. They are both good shots. They don’t get excited easily and Megan and Terri are their mothers”. Then he pressed for more info, “But what is your plan”?
“It looks pretty likely that he has the girls. I think the best way to get him is to let him get home. He does not know that we know where that is. That gives us the advantage. He should not be on his guard once he gets there. I’m afraid that if we try to get him on the trail back that he might hear us and just avoid us and go somewhere else. It could take us a long time to find him then. Remember that old John Wayne movie I watch sometimes, The Searchers? Well think about how long they looked? I don’t want Candace and Vicky with him that long”.
I could see the kids were anxious to just charge off. But as we kept talking it out they all finally came to see that the plan was the best way of getting the girls back, hopefully unharmed.
From the books I had read of the area, I had a pretty good understanding of the roads around here. I knew there was a road to the north of us, away from the route Frank and I had taken earlier, that would get us close to Frank’s new home. It would take us a bit longer to get there but that would be safer. There was always the risk that Frank might sit off the road to see if we would try and follow him. It took us a couple of hours to put together everything we wanted. I had a tearful goodbye with Karen and Pam. Terri came around and said she would look after the girls for me. She had that old fierce look in her eye again. I knew she always regretted not being the one to take care of John when we were younger. I thought she would relish the thought of Frank coming in the house.
All the boys were outside and mounted. We wanted to get on the road before the day was over. Get as many miles behind us as we could. I was still in the house, about to leave when Megan came up to me and hugged me. “Be careful. I want you to come home to me safe”. Then she quickly added, “I mean for Karen and Pam. They need you”.
“I’ll do my best”.
“Well be sure you do because I’ll kick your butt up and down the mountain if you don’t”.
She really surprised me. Megan, my sister, who teased me unmercifully when I was a kid. The one who was somewhat reluctant when our family began growing. The only one who was out here telling me to come home safe. I gave her a hug back and a light kiss on the lips. Before I could let go Karen and Pam came up and joined in our hug. Pam looked at Megan and gave her a little smile, “Maybe you would like to join us when Dan returns”?
Megan smiled back at her, “Maybe I would”. Then she turned back to me, “But first you come back safe”.
I gave each of them a kiss and then went out the door. Seven of my sons were in their saddles, waiting. Grouped around us was the entire family to see us off. Several of the girls were coming up to each of the boys, telling them to be careful. It was several minutes before we could finally get off.
Little was said as we rode. There was a full moon so we rode until after midnight. We camped and just put down bedrolls and slept for a few hours. As soon as it began to get light we hit the road again. We stopped just to rest the horses every couple of hours. It was late afternoon when we finally found the side road that would take us near where Frank had settled. By early evening we crested a rise and, with the help of the binoculars, I could see the back of Frank’s house in the distance. It looked like we were around two miles or so from him. There were no signs of anyone there. I continued watching as the sun went down. When it finally got dark a light appeared at a window. Frank was back.
We moved back down the hill so we would be out of sight. We started a fire and had our meal. While we were sitting there eating, I outlined what we would do the next day. Two of us would approach the house from each side. I would approach from the front with Jason hanging back to cover me if necessary. “I will try and draw Frank out. We want to try and get him out of the house, away from the girls. If we are successful, Richard and David, you are going to come in from the rear, will enter the house and get the girls out. Once we have done that we will take care of Frank. If Frank is outside and armed, if he makes a move towards me, you on the two sides, take him out”. I looked around at each of them in turn, “Now remember what he did to Sharon. Do not hesitate when it is time. Frank won’t”. They all nodded. “We’ll get up a couple hours before daylight and make our way to our positions. When we get there, you will all wait for me to make my way in. You will stay out of sight until then. Understand”? They all nodded again.
We put the fire out and all lay down to get some rest. I was having a hard time getting to sleep. As much as I figured he deserved his fate, I did not relish being the cause of it. From the way the others were fidgeting under their blankets, they must be having trouble also, as they should. We were going to take a man’s life.
When I woke, my clock said it was just before 4 O’clock. It was still dark, the moon was gone. I went around and woke the others. We had a quick bite of the food the women had sent with us, and some water. Everyone checked their weapons and then we set out.
It took a good two hours to get there. The sun was not up but it was getting light; false dawn. We got into our positions, each of us about 100 yards out from the house, and then hunkered down to wait. It was another two hours before I saw Frank come out the front door and go to the barn, he had Vicky with him, her hand in his. I could not be sure, but it looked like a holster was on his hip. This was the opportunity I wanted. I stood but was having trouble taking the first step towards the house. Then I remembered the fear in Karen’s face, I started walking.
I was within thirty yards of the house when Frank walked out of the barn with his back to me. Vicky’s hand was still in his, a basket in her other hand. It looked to be filled with eggs. I stopped and called out to him, “Good morning Frank”.
He stopped, dropped the basket, and whirled around to face me, one hand dropping to his hip, the other pulling Vicky in front of him, tight against him, his arm moving around her waist. I was right. He had a holster. His hand now rested on the grip but did not pull the pistol out. That is a start. Maybe this will go easier than I thought.
“Well good morning Dad. You surprised me. Good job”. He watched me for a moment. “Ah, now I remember. You used to watch the valley when I was little. You saw a light didn’t you”. He was nodding his head. I kept watching his hand for any movement. I thought he was talking to try and distract me. I could see his head move slightly to his left and right, trying to see if there is anyone else with me. I kept focused on him. Let him think about it.
“Well what do we do now Dad”?
“I came to get Candace and Vicky. Why don’t you let Vicky come over here”?
Keeping my eyes on him, I could see Richard and David coming around the back of the house and start working very carefully to my Right. David was carrying Candice. In a few seconds they were out of sight behind the barn. They were safe. That left Vicky, and of course, Frank.
“I don’t think they want to leave me. They’re having too much fun. Aren’t you Vicky”? Vicky started to shake her head but Frank bent down to her, his arm tightening around her. “Aren’t you Vicky”?
“Daddy”? She sounded so scared.
“Vicky, we talked about this. You are having fun aren’t you”?
“Yes”.
“Yes what”?
“Yes, I’m having fun”.
“See Dad, you can go now”.
I was okay until he smiled. The rage I felt finding Sharon returned. I took a step towards him. All those cautions for my sons and I could not follow them myself. I was about ten yards from him when Frank pushed down on his pistol grip and the holster swung on his hip. There was a roar.
I could see the sky. It looked so blue. But I was having trouble focusing. There was one small cloud up there but it kept moving around. How can a cloud do that? How did I get down here? What was I doing? I should get up. I tried to move my legs but they felt so heavy, I felt so tired. Maybe if I just rest for a moment, then I’ll get up.
I was still trying to focus on that cloud when Frank’s face blocked it out. Now I remember.
“Dad, didn’t I tell you what would happen if I ever saw you again”?
His voice sounded so small. I could barely hear him. I was trying to tell him to speak up but my tongue kept getting in the way.
“What Dad”?
As he bent over me he let Vicky go. He opened his mouth to say something and a small hole appeared in his forehead. He dropped out of my sight. I tried to move my head to see where he went but it seemed to take so much effort.
“Dad! Dad! Are you okay”?
Jason was there. His lips were moving but I could not hear what he was saying. Why was he so worried?
“Dad. It happened so fast. Vicky was in the way. I did not have a good shot. Dad, can you hear me”?
It’s getting so dark. I must have been here for quite a while. We should be going. We need to get the girls home. What’s he doing? He’s tearing my good shirt. Why are his hands so red?
“Dad, hold on. Please Dad”.
Oh good, the other boys are here. There’s David and Richard, Jim and James, and, and, what’s his name? I know him, what is his name? Oh yes, Tom. Now why couldn’t I remember that?
“Dad”.
It’s so cold? It must be getting late. It’s so dark, and so cold. I wonder why I can’t hear what they’re saying? I can see their lips move. Maybe if I closed my eyes for a minute and rested. I just need to rest.
“Dad, no”.
“Dad”.
Epilogue:
Fall has come early this year. It’s only the end of September and we have already had a couple days of light snow. It has been so cold that the snow is still on the ground, not a good sign. Lately the days have been dark and heavy with clouds. It looks to be a bad winter. Good thing the livestock has already been moved to a new home.
I’ve been coming up here to our small graveyard about once a month or so, since it happened, to talk to Dad. It has been just over two years since we lost him. Richard made a tombstone for him. He went down to town and looked around until he found a stonemason’s shop. He came back with a nice stone and worked on it. He did a good job. It’s nice. I did not know he had that skill. I guess we are all developing skills we did not know we had.
Almost everyone is gone now. Come springtime I’ll be leaving too and then there will be no one left. At our high point, right after Dad and auntie Sharon died, we had over four hundred people here. We were like a small town. Now it feels more like a ghost town.
Megan, my mom, was pretty broken up when Dad was died. After that she did not really want to be here any longer. She took Sharon’s place, leading a group down to the valley and was gone just a week later. Then we began splitting up rather quickly. Jason and Paul both left the same summer; Jason for the lumber mill and Paul for the mill to grind grain. They were supposed to leave the next year but they did not want to wait. I was not surprised when Karen and Pam left with Jason. Jason was always a lot like Dad.
The following year auntie Shelly and Terri took groups out. Our plan had been for one group to leave each year but with Dad gone, well, things were just different. And now I’m the last.
I know it’s just a sentimental crutch, talking things over with Dad. And of course, he’s the perfect Dad. He just stays quiet and lets me figure them out for myself. Jason always kidded me when he saw me up here. He’d tell me the answer was always inside of me. I just have to find it, let it out. But then, he’s like Dad. He always knows what to do. He would not understand. You see, it was my fault. It will always be my fault. I did not shoot soon enough.
THE END!
Thanks to all who has been following. Next story up soon!