The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts

By: Nicholas Hall
(© 2021-2022 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

nhall@tickiestories.us

Chapter 17
The Growing-up Years

“I don’t think there’s a pocket Isaiah couldn’t pick and Joshua’s running a close second.”

(The Private Journals of Isaiah Watts) 

The winter of 1931-32 wasn’t an unusual one by all standards but the snow and cold of country living was definitely a new experience for Isaiah. Thanksgiving Day there was just a light, perhaps two inches, layer of snow on the ground and not a severely cold temperature. Dorothea spoke to her daughters-in-law concerning her desire to have everyone at David’s to celebrate. She was so happy to have everyone close, she just wanted to enjoy the day and meal with them.

The others thought it a great idea, although it’d place more work on Claire and Dorothea. It was decided they’d all pitch in with food preparation and feeding arrangements. The house would be crowded, but they could make it work. Claire did invite her parents as well, since they were now close and her father was feeling better.

The meal was buffet style with the little ones fed first. There was plenty of food since everyone brought something. David traded a smoked pork shoulder plus three dollars paper money for two fat turkeys from a farmer who lived the other side of Decker’s Corner. Each bird dressed out a little over eighteen pounds so there was plenty to go around. The day turned out fairly warm so it was possible to “spill” out onto the porch to escape the crowd.

Christmas was celebrated by each family in their own homes with presents consisting mostly of clothes, mittens, stocking hats, and other items. The littlest ones did receive a toy while the others had stockings; each had an orange, an apple, and a piece or two of candy in them. Money was just too dear to spend it lavishly on impractical items. Perhaps a jackknife, a sharpening stone, or other small item was given or received. David did have a 16ga shotgun and a 20ga shotgun, both pump action, for his family to use. They were getting older and there was plenty of game around to use them on.

Isaiah figured his dad cut some kind of a deal with Agostino Russo for the guns. He also figured he could’ve gotten them for letting Freddy fuck him a couple of times, but it might be difficult explaining if his mother decided to question him about it.

Stephen received a .410ga single shot shotgun that year as well so the four of them, Stephen, Joshua, Isaiah, and Gio, with Gio leading, spent some of their free time during the winter, hunting rabbits, quail, and pheasants. Gio seemed to know every ravine, swale, willow copse, or field where they could kill critters and take them home to eat. Not only did they have a good time, provide food for the table, but really increased their skill with weapons.

Spring arrived around late March as the ice was out of the bays and sloughs of the river. The ice houses were filled in Mid-February when the weather was cold and the ice thick and safe to work on. The thick river ice was covered with sawdust to keep in from melting too fast and would last until the next winter if used judiciously. It was great for keeping things cold in the ice box in the house, not good for putting in a drink to cool it or suck on to cool off with.

“If you want something to suck on,” Gio laughed lasciviously, unfastening his fly, “lick this lollypop and suck it to the root!”

Isaiah took him up on the offer!

Summer of 1932 wasn’t unlike the summer before except life on the farms became routine and accepted. There were chores to be done, work to help with, and time for boys to be boys growing up. It was a time, however, when the Depression deepened and it was an election year. Opportunities to obtain cash by the use of Isaiah and now Joshua’s talents were fewer. Even Gio and Freddy were being very cautious as well. The few people who had some wealth guarded it carefully. David did the same, but still kept his eyes open for bargains.

In March, before planting began and as farm mortgages, rents, or house loans became due and possible forfeitures for bankruptcy, David called a meeting of his brothers, their wives, Bill and Zoe Lovell, and Dorothea. He expressed his concern about possible shortages in the future the way the economy looked and wanted to know what they might need in the next year so he could be on the lookout for the items. It was quite a list of needles, thread, yarn, and other household items. A treadle sewing machine was mentioned, canning supplies, perhaps a liquid propane kitchen stove, another truck or two, and maybe a tractor since farming was becoming modernized. Joseph was becoming pretty adept at repairing gasoline engines and other items so he encouraged it. When the meeting was over, David had quite a list, but not one filled with non-essentials. Salt, flour, yeast, beans, sugar, vinegar, and other staples were always on the list.

Benjamin and Darius slowly became aware over the past year, how David’s revenue stream existed, especially after he restarted his games of chance, and once witnessing the slickness of Joshua and Isaiah’s talents with their hands, but they said nothing! The brothers maintained their practice of keeping such things close to their chest. They were quite satisfied to farm and raise their families. No matter what, the Watt’s brothers would stick together and that attribute was shared by their wives and children.

The notion of staying in one place all of the time was a bit disconcerting to Isaiah and Joshua at times. They were old enough to have experienced the vagabond, traveling life, albeit Isaiah more than Joshua. However, Isaiah was well satisfied with life as he now knew it. He had Gio as a friend and constant companion. They seemed inseparable, attached at the hip figuratively, but whenever the opportunity presented itself, attached cock to mouth or butt to crotch.

The routines of farm life, including chores, gardening, and helping with field work, along with helping their mother and grandmother in the house was sometimes hard work but it was on their own farm and in their own house. It didn’t mean they didn’t have time to play. There was plenty of opportunity for that. Isaiah and Joshua would hitch Ida up the cart, pick up Gio, head to their uncles’ houses, pick up Stephen, Patrick, and Jonathon for an afternoon of tag or perhaps fishing in the either a nearby stream or down at the landing at home in the big river.

Swimming was their favorite playtime and quite a treat since they were forbidden to swim in the river or go to the gravel pit without an adult with them. The adult was usually their Uncle Zach who’d load the older boys from all three farms, including Gio, up in the back of his pickup truck and take them to the gravel pit for an afternoon of swimming.

Mid-summer 1932 and the Depression was really cranking up. More and more people were without jobs and money. It was also hot and humid! Zach and Garrett invited Stephen, Isaiah, and Gio to go for a swim after they’d been mowing and stacking hay most of the day. It was hot, dusty, and dirty work but something the younger lads could do.

Naked, hot, and horny, while Isaiah and Gio were swimming, Zach and Garrett decided it was time to “bury the hatchet” so to speak. There was no one else at the swimming hole, so Zach bent Garrett over and plugged his hole tight with his cock. Stephen was standing nearby and took an immediate interest in what was happening.

“God, that must hurt something awful ‘cause it’s so big and long!” exclaimed Stephen as he watched Garrett being impaled on Zach’s impressively hard and thick cock.

“Not really,” confessed a very satisfied Garrett, “not anymore at least. I just feel full until he starts to move back and forth, then it’s spectacular. Nothing like being fucked, I think. If you want, I can show you once we’re done. You ever been fucked before?”

“No!” Stephen responded hoarsely, shaking his head back and forth rapidly giving evidence of his innocence and virginity.

“Well, this is your lucky day; you’re soon gonna be!”

“By him?”  Stephen’s eyes all agog, fear of the mighty phallus stretching and filling Garrett’s asshole, reflected in his eyes, “I want to, but he’s so big!”

“Not Zach, you doofus; me!”

“Oh!”

Garrett waited a long time for this opportunity and wasn’t about to let it pass him by. He looked at the slim, naked, hairless younger boy with his hard, three-inch spike with the foreskin pulled back far enough for the savory, pink head to protrude, balls snugged tight underneath, and smiled as Zach slowed his own movements, and said to Stephen, “Come closer!”

******* 

Roosevelt was elected in November 1932 and took office in March of 1933 and things began to change! He took the United States off of the gold standard. Eventually gold coin was declared not to be used for tender and only paper money, but there was a black market for goods bought and sold using gold.

Not only did Roosevelt take office in early Spring, but with spring came auctions and more foreclosures. It was the time opportunity awaited those who had the means to make purchases or skills to take advantage of crowds of people. It was also the time, this particular year, to be wary, according to Agostino Russo.

“Word has it,” he began in their conversation over a beer at his house, “There’s a small group, maybe three or four, characters around south of here, who’re night time robbers. They come at night when households, especially farm houses or homes in rural areas close to cities, are asleep, gain entry, and rob the people inside at gun point. Rumor also has it they not only take the money and other valuables, but take their pleasures as well with the women folk and young girls and boys. It seems their information concerning the wealth held in those homes is quite accurate since they seem to rob no households who aren’t particularly wealthy. Don’t know how they gain their information yet, but it’s pretty damned accurate.”

David nodded his understanding, promising to keep his eyes and ears open, along with alerting his brothers, slipped Augusto a couple of coins, paid for the purchases he made, and asked Agostino to keep his eyes open for a couple of pistols, shotguns, and a couple of high-powered, 30/30 caliber rifles.  

It was two years, give or take a month or two, since the Watt’s families, David’s, Benjamin’s, and Darius’, returned to Decker’s Corner to live and make their homes. The Lovell’s joined them near summer’s end following the attack on them while traveling to recover Bill’s health. He’d recovered nicely and seemed to be adapting to a non-nomadic life after spending his entire life, to this point, traveling, although he did admit, on occasion, his former life. Zoe didn’t really miss the everyday breaking camp and moving; she did miss the dollars their activities at various fairs and festivals brought in but those events were now few and far between and dollars were hard to come by for people in general. She really missed having the rest of her children and grandchildren around her in the Lovell Band as they traveled.

Claire was pregnant again and if she was correct, affirmed by her mother Zoe, she should deliver sometime around the end of August or first of September. She was comforted by having both her mother and mother-in-law nearby. She relied on the boys for more assistance at home with the household chores and taking care of the younger ones.

There were a number of foreclosures and auctions and David and one of brothers, Darius at this particular one, along with Isaiah, Joshua, and Gio attending, were looking for household items, a tractor, and tractor-towed farm equipment. They had one tractor already but David wanted to expand his farming through the use of mechanized farm equipment and rely less on his horses. He wasn’t going to rid himself of his animals but the tractors could do more work faster. However, the horses were reliable and steady and could be used to supplement the motorized equipment.

The third one they attended in as many weeks just south of the Tri-Cities, Isaiah noticed three men, with a fourth waiting in a car, he’d seen before. Watching them carefully, he noticed they made no bids, but observed the crowd closely with one of the men occasionally making a note on a piece of paper. The fourth man never left the car either standing near the driver’s door or sitting behind the wheel, as if prepared to leave on a moments notice. According to Gio, the man was a “wheel man” who’d drive the “get-away car.”

David bid on and bought a tractor and some equipment used with the tractor including a baler. Isaiah noted, when his dad’s bid was made and accepted, the man made a note and put the paper back in his pocket. Isaiah gave a nod to Joshua, who was scanning the crowd for an easy “mark,” to join Gio and him. He quickly explained what happened and set up a plan to dip the man’s pocket and get the paper. Gio heard what Isaiah had in mind and nodded, but did ask,

“Do you think this will work?”

“Just as slick as sliding your cock up my asshole,” giggled Isaiah.

“They won’t know it’s gone until they reach their car and take a look,” added Joshua.

“It’ll be like knowing you have two balls until you reach into your pants to scratch and find out you’re missing one,” Isaiah added to emphasize how good he thought Joshua and he were.

*******

“Comin’ through!” hollered a very naked, except for his shoes, Joshua as he banged into one of the three men and ricocheted off of another, catching his fall by grabbing at one man in particular, righting himself in his attempt to escape his pursuer. He turned, momentarily facing the men, his face wide with a grin, his hairless small pecker pointing out over his penny-sized balls, gave his cock a flip or two with his hand, and shouted with a giggle,

“Sorry guys, but gotta’ go!” and took off running, his legs just a pumping and his smooth, small round butt-cheeks clenching and bouncing with each step.

While the men were concentrating on the nakedness of the boy running away from them, Gio missed them as he ran by, but Isaiah stumbled into them, exaggerating his limp as an excuse.

“What the fuck?” complained one man shouting it aloud, somewhat disgusted the boy couldn’t have dodged him.

“Sorry, mister,” Isaiah wheezed, leaning over, hands on his knees, feigning to catch his breath and rest his sore hip. “That’s our little brother and he’s naked again! Momma won’t like it if she sees him. He sort of likes to run around naked and show off his pecker.”

With that, he started off, albeit slower, in his effort to catch up with the other two running boys, who, by now were out of sight.

Isaiah hobbled along until he too disappeared from view.

“I’d fuck the little one,” one man laughed, adjusting his crotch, his erection quite evident.

“Yep,” another commented, “you would. Right before you fucked the other two.”

Joshua, Gio, and Isaiah circled back to where Joshua stashed his clothes. As Joshua dressed, Isaiah examined the contents of the wallet he’d picked. It had a substantial amount of cash, but most importantly, the man’s driver’s license containing his address. The piece of paper Joshua lifted had four names on it; three were strangers, but David Watt’s name certainly wasn’t.

Isaiah dropped the wallet, contents intact, where the three men stood previously, watching the bidding.

It wasn’t long, watching from a distance and concealed, the boys saw the three men return, scanning the ground for the “lost” wallet. Spotting it, the owner picked it up, examined the contents, and apparently was satisfied since he put it in his pocket and the men left.

Isaiah’s dad and Uncle Darius were loading items in the back of the two pickup trucks and one two-wheel trailer they’d brought just for this purpose, when the boys returned. Isaiah gave his dad the note with the name on it, explaining how and why they decided to “dip the mark.”

“It was what they weren’t doing,” Isaiah explained. “Just standing around, watching, not buying, just watching! They didn’t look like cops or act like them, so I decided we needed to find out more about them. If Joshua and I acted like that, we’d have the cops and half the town down on us. Besides, this was not a very flush crowd so we didn’t take anyone. Sorry!”

“Don’t be sorry,” David said, “there’s always better days. I think you’ve more than made a healthy contribution today with the information you were able to get for us. Uncle Darius, Uncle Ben, Augusto, Freddy, and I have much to discuss thanks to you three young men!”

All three puffed up their chests just a bit, stood a little taller, and beamed their happiness!

“Now, help us load. I’ve made arrangement for a trucker to haul the tractor and other large equipment to the farm, but we need to get this other stuff home.”

The boys chattered as they worked, lifting and putting on the trailer or in one of the trucks items not too heavy for them to handle.

Darius leaned over to David, “You mean to say, Joshua stripped bare-ass naked and ran through those men, picked a pocket to get a piece of paper, and didn’t get caught?”

“Yep! His bare ass sort of acted as a distraction. Especially when he wiggled his pecker at the guys. Made them look at him so Isaiah could finish the job.”

“Oh, my god!” Darius whistled. “He’s that good?”

“Better than good! That boy can do things with his hands and fingers that would make a grown man cry!”

“There was the time, I stood at a distance watching the two boys work. The crowd was large and there were some rather plush looking men walking about the boys thought carried some cash. They spotted the rather portly man, the man they marked for plucking, and Isaiah maneuvered himself so he was directly in front of the man, faked a collision as the man moved forward, battering Isaiah to the ground, and howled in pain. Joshua set up a clamor as well, embarrassing the poor sucker, who reached over to help Isaiah to his feet. Now, Isaiah was using a wooden stick as a cane to emphasize his infirmity, appearing to be relatively helpless.”

“The mark moved to pick him up and Isaiah began grasping at the man’s coat to assist. As God is my witness, Darius, I watched Isaiah slip his hand inside the man’s shirt, slip the money belt out, hand the belt to Joshua who announced he was off to find their mother, and rebuttoned the fucker’s shirt.”

“Once upright, Isaiah apologized and gave the man a big hug, thanking him. Joshua was sauntering away, money belt tucked inside his pants. Isaiah backed away, again apologizing, used the walking stick until he was lost in the crowd, dropped it, and rejoined Joshua. Those little devils picked up over a hundred dollars in gold and as much in greenbacks. We left as soon as possible, right after the boys changed clothes, and tossed the clothes they’d worn in a garbage can.”

“I’ll be damned!” muttered Darius. “Would’ve never guessed!”

“Darius,” David admitted, “I don’t think there’s a pocket Isaiah couldn’t pick and Joshua’s running a close second.”

 *******

David stopped in Decker’s Store and informed him of the roving band of thieves operating farther south and of the four suspicious characters spotted at the auction Darius and he attended.

“I think,” David speculated, “Decker’s Corner and my place in particular, will be hit within the next couple of weeks. These men are capable not only of robbery, but rape, brutal beatings, and rape of women, young girls, and boys. There’s some talk they may have killed a few people along the way.”

Decker didn’t ask how David found out what he was telling him, but promised to let everyone to be on the lookout, especially if any strangers asked for directions to David’s farm. The residents of the dozen or so houses in the little settlement could be counted on to keep their eyes open for strangers and mouths shut to strangers and the law.

They may be a collection of people who were considered misfits, those outside the law, or unwelcome in polite society, but they suited each other well and were loyal to their own. Their loyalty to those in Decker’s Corner was a bulwark against outsiders. They might cheat, steal, and commit mayhem in the outside world and have past lives best forgotten and spoken of, but they wouldn’t betray each other, preferring to fight instead. Oh, they may fuck each other (no matter the age), but gently, without rape. As long as nobody complained, who was to say no?

The Watt’s Family was on constant alert, ready to act should a threat arise! Everyone had their place and instructions and they were ready, down to the youngest doing whatever they were capable.

Gio feared for Isaiah, but he needn’t be, Isaiah assured him.

“Well, if word comes down there’s going to be a pissing match, I’m comin’ over,” Gio announced, determination in his voice! No one, including Isaiah, could convince him otherwise.

A week after David’s conversation with Decker, Tommy Bormann, age fifteen, rattled into the farmyard with a message from Decker.

“Mr. Decker says, Mr. Watts, two strangers stopped in the store this morning, asking directions to your place saying they had some farm equipment to deliver.”

Decker knew very well it was a fucking lie! David’s equipment he bought at the auction was delivered several days previously. Yet, he gave them the correct directions figuring, if warned, David and his family just might solve the problem of the robbers and send a warning to anyone else who might decide to try some funny stuff in Decker’s Corner.

“Mr. Decker said to tell you they looked mean and ugly and you’d know what to do so he told them where you lived.”

“As well he should, Tommy,” thanked David tossing him a silver dollar. “Would you drive on over to Darius’ and Ben’s and the Lovell’s and tell them too. Here’s another dollar for helping us out and delivering the message.”

“You bet, I will,” grinned Tommy, pocketing the two silver dollars.

Before he left, Isaiah asked him to let Gio know as well. He’d do that, making certain though, his last stop would be Lovell’s. If Garrett was there, he might be up for a fuck, Tommy thought. He could use a cock-soaking, hard thrusting, butt-pounding ride on Garrett’s back and hoped Garrett was up for it as well. Garrett might mount him as well, although Garrett fucked as fast as a rabbit, it was still well worth it!

Garrett was a grade below Tommy and had a nice little business forging absence excuses for students all in need of one. All Garrett needed was a sample of the parent’s handwriting, including signature, and it was done, for a fee of course. He also had a nice ass some of the older boys loved to fuck. Cost them fifty cents for that. It didn’t cost Tommy anything since he sort of acted like Garrett’s agent, locating those older boys with the coin and desire to dip their wicks.

 *******

The assignments were pretty straight forward. The main focus of the robbery, David thought, would be on his place, but he couldn’t take any chances. They must might strike one of the others first or last, depending. Joseph would spend nights at Darius’, Zach at Lovell’s, and Freddy Russo would be staying at Ben’s. Stephen was old enough to handle a .410 and he knew well how to shoot it. He didn’t, however have the same life experiences as Isaiah and Joshua who were more accustomed to being ready to fight, if necessary. They were both well experienced and handy with their knives, thanks to the tutoring by their father. David just felt there should be another adult at the house. Freddy didn’t object and was a dead shot as well.

Isaiah, Joshua, and Gio, who insisted on being there with Isaiah, would camp out along the main road. If they spotted a vehicle looking suspicious or stopping, Joshua would hot-foot it back through the trees and corn field to the house and warn his father. Once done, he would man the single shot .410 shotgun at the house.

The first night was long and uneventful. The second night, close to midnight, a four-door car stopped on the road, where a couple of rows of trees on both sides of the road would keep their car out of sight from the house. Ironically, they stopped right across the road from where Isaiah, Joshua, and Gio were hidden. The moon provided just enough light for the boys to see four men in the vehicle, one driving, one in the passenger seat, and two in the backseat. Joshua took off, sneaking through the trees to the cornfield, headed toward the house to sound the warning!

Three men left the car, leaving the driver behind the wheel, crept down the road to the lane leading to the house, and appeared to stop for maybe, three or four minutes, as if checking to see if there was any activity or sign the house may have been alerted. Sensing nothing was amiss and surprise would be on their side, they moved stealthy down the lane and into the farmyard. No dogs barked, no lights were on, so they moved quietly up the steps and onto the porch.

As one man, apparently the leader, carefully reached for the doorknob, from the dark side of the porch, well hidden by the darkness and a rain barrel, David asked,

“May I help you?”

His question initiated an immediate response in the form of a wild pistol shot from one man, followed by a blast of David’s double-barreled shotgun loaded with 00buckshot. The impact of the lead shot, traveling with such force and such a short distance, rocketed the man off of the porch along with a good portion of his guts. This was followed by a 12 ga. blast at the other two men scrambling to leave. It caught one in the right side, driving him to his knees. As the other leaned over to help him get up, a .410 shotgun blast hit him in the ass.  Before another round could be fired at the men, the moon was darkened by a cloud passing by.

Gio and Isaiah waited a very short time after the first three left the car, watching the driver. They could see his right shoulder jiggling.

“What’s he doin’?” Isaiah whispered.

“He’s jackin’ off,” Gio answered.

“Not for long!” Isaiah responded.

With a nod to Gio, Isaiah slipped out of the trees and took up a position at the rear of the car waiting for Gio to make the next move.

In the midst of his sexual fantasy, imagining he was fucking the cute, young, naked boy he’d seen at the auction, hoping it’d be soon he could do it for real, the man’s orgasm was interrupted by a “snap” and a pain in the side of his head when a steel ball bearing tore into it and entered his brain. The swift, effective slice of a knife across his throat by a young arm reaching through the open car window, spewed his blood down his chest, and onto his now deflated cock. As he was gurgling and bleeding his life away, Gio suggested softly,

“Let’s check the inside back seat and the trunk. Might be something worth lifting.”

He put his slingshot into his back pocket, while Isaiah cleaned off the blade of his stiletto before slipping it back into its sheath.

A quick look of the back seat revealed nothing of value, so they moved to the rear of the car and the trunk.

“It’s locked,” Isaiah hissed giving the handle a try.

“No problem,” smiled Gio, reaching into his pants pocket and, while Isaiah held the light, pulled out a small leather case and extracted a short, steel wire-like tool.

“What’s that?” Isaiah quired.

“A lock pick. Hope this is the right one. Shine the light on the lock.”

Isaiah did as he was instructed, Gio slipped the pick into the lock, manipulated it for a moment, and unlocked the trunk. Inside the trunk was an assortment of tools, weapons, and a black leather bag, a valise, according to Gio. Gio spotted a couple of .38 revolvers, which he took and a 12ga. short barreled, about fourteen inches long, shotgun equipped with a pistol grip.

“Nasty lookin’ fucker isn’t it?” he mused as he took it and a couple of boxes of shells out.

They were about to look into the valise when they heard the shots coming from the house. Isaiah grabbed the valise and the two scurried back into the trees to wait to see if anyone returned.

“Sounded like more than one person shot,” Gio commented softly.

“Yeah, probably Joshua with the .410,” speculated Isaiah. It didn’t explain the fourth shot, the one that sounded like another shotgun.

They watched two men, apparently injured from the way they walked, stagger down the road in the darkness toward the car. One man appeared to be assisting the other, holding him up, and sort of dragging him along, although limping badly himself. The least injured opened the back door of the car and shoved the other man, while shouting,

“Go Frankie, get the fuck out of here! Eddie’s been shot and so have I!”

No response!

“I said move this son-of-bitch, dip shit!”

Still no response!

Crawling from the back seat, the man limped out, yanked open the driver’s door, and shouted, “Frank….”  His comments were cut off as he saw what was behind the steering wheel.

“SON-OF-BITCH,” he screeched in horror! “He’s fuckin’ dead, Eddie!”

Something was muttered from the back seat.

“I know, Eddie, but there’s fuckin’ blood all over.”

He hesitated a minute, reached in and gave “Frankie” a shove from his position behind the wheel into the passenger seat, swearing the whole time about how “fucked up” everything was before starting the car, and tromping down on the accelerator. Gravel flew from the back wheels as the car lurched forward.

“Think I’ll give them something else to remember us by,” mused Gio, raising the sawed-off shotgun and pointing at the escaping group. He pulled the trigger, the weapon roared, and the blast from one barrel splattered the back of the car with buckshot and blew out the rear window. The car sort swerved from side to side a couple of times, until the driver regained control and then it moved, fast, well out of sight.

“You okay, Gio?” Isaiah asked looking down at Gio sitting on his ass on the ground.

“That damned thing has one hell of a kick!” Gio muttered in reply.

“Next time, hold it with both hands,” advised Isaiah.

 *******

Gio carried the guns while Isaiah carried the valise. They stopped a couple of times to rest since Isaiah complained the valise was heavy. Nearing the house, they could see lamps and lanterns lighting up the front porch. A man’s body lay sprawled out on the ground in front of the porch and Joshua was coming from the barn carrying a canvas tarp.

“Daddy didn’t want him blooding up a good blanket,” Joshua announced explaining the tarp he was carrying.

Isaiah handed the valise to his dad. David took it, hefted it, opened it and looked inside, before whistling softly.

“Where did you…..?”

His question was interrupted by the sound of and the lights from a pickup truck coming down the lane.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he said to Isaiah, setting the valise inside the house door. “Meantime, you boys help Joshua cover the body.”

The headlights proved to be from Ben’s truck. As he climbed out, he shouted out, “What happened?”

“Where’s Freddy?” David countered, not wanting to get too deeply into the situation, especially when there was more to hear from Isaiah and Gio.

“Left him to watch the place. Figured you either got the sons-a-bitches, or you needed some help.”

“Got’em, but I need you to drive to Decker’s, wake him, and call the sheriff. Tell him we had a problem. Wounded two and killed,” noticing from the corner of his eye, Isaiah wobbling his head no at Gio, “one. The two wounded headed toward the road, moving damned slow.”

Ben jumped back into the truck, wheeled it around, and headed toward Decker’s Corner.

Crooking his finger, motioning Gio and Isaiah to come forward, followed by Joshua who was certain not to miss a thing, figuring there was something else only Gio and Isaiah knew.

“Isaiah,” David asked, “Was there someone else waiting in the car?”

Isaiah nodded.

“Is that where the valise came from?”

Isaiah and Gio both nodded.

“And?”

Isaiah slowly ran one finger across this throat!

David nodded slowly, fully understanding what happened. “Dead?”

“Bled like a stuck hog!” Gio volunteered.

To be continued...

Posted: 03/18/2022