Horrible Harvest

They approached. Five come at us from the front. Another four flanked us. Clumsy as they was, they fount a way to surround us. Me, Tate, and Douglas stood shoulder to shoulder. I kept my eyes on the frontlines, and they kept watch on the back.

“Mr. Tennyson?” Landry asked.

I give him a sideways glare. My name come out his mouth like he wasn’t sure who I was.

“Are you him, Tennyson – ” He thought for a second before saying, “Augustus – Is it?”

“Judge.”

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “No. I’m his brother. Thomas.” He chuckled. “I get that all the time, though. People think I’m him. Fun fact, we’re not even twins. Much as we look alike, folks assume that we are – Or were, I guess I should say.”

“How can I help you, Thomas?”

“You was spotted in Jackson by one of my brother’s – Associates. Fella at the depot give up where you was headed. You and your friends.”

“Doesn’t answer my question.”

“Christopher’s dead, Mr. Augustus Tennyson. Four others, too. Three fellas wish they were dead, they’re burnt up so bad.”

“Still ain’t no closer.”

“How’s that?”

“I said you ain’t no closer to answering my question.”

“My brother was a war hero, Tennyson. You killed a genuine war hero. You think you can just walk away from a thing like that? We tracked you down ‘cause you were fool enough to be seen drinking in a saloon in Jackson. Drinking loud, too. Bringing on attention, insisting this nigger drink with you.”

I give a laugh. “I need to correct you on a notion or two or three. I didn’t kill your brother, and this hero business, that’s a bunch of horseshit, for sure, and Tate’s nigger days are done. You can call him – ” I done a half turn to Tate. “What can he call you? Tate? Mr. Tate or Mr. Fable Jack Tatum – You want the whole goddamn name in there?”

“Mr. Tate’s fine.”

I turnt back to Landry. “You catch that?”

“You’re gonna hang – the whole lot of you.”

“Well,” I said, “I can’t say I’m surprised. Kind of life I’ve led, the things I’ve done, hanging was the most likely end of the road for me. Can’t speak for Douglas or Tate. Although I suspect both would lay odds there was a better than good chance they’d be fitted for nooses, too, one of these days.”

“You ain’t wrong about that,” Douglas said. “I’m more surprised it’s took this long to get here.”

“I’ve been hung before,” Tate added. “Didn’t take. Rope broke.”

“What the hell’re y’all yammering about?”

“When and where is this hanging going to take place?” I asked.

“Soon as we get you clear of town. Police Chief around here ain’t a fan of folks doing his job.”

“I still ain’t clear on why you’re planning on hanging us. I told you I didn’t kill your brother. I ain’t saying I wouldn’t’ve, but you wanna know the truth on it, ol’ Judge Landry got the drop on me.”

“I know. It was Bobby Bunning that killed him. He’s on our list. We’ll hunt every one of you down – Every sumbitch in the Bunning Brother’s gang is dead already, y’all just don’t know it yet.”

“Firm.”

“What?”

“We weren’t a gang. We was a firm, and I’m gonna have to be honest with you. I’m gonna have to decline your offer to hang me. We all are. We’ve got plans that ain’t gonna allow for your hangins.”

He chuckled. “I can’t figure why you’re so calm and confident that this ain’t your worse day.”

I give a chuckle back. “You know that’s cute you think hanging would be my worse day and not my best, but I’m sorry to say I’m just not gonna be able to accommodate you today.”

“They’s nine of us and three of you.”

“Well, I am impressed with your arithmetic skills – For the most part.”

“We don’t want to draw on you. Less attention we call on ourselves, the better, but we will if the need arises.”

“Ain’t you curious what I meant by for the most part?”

“I’m gonna send Mr. Jones, Mr. Saddler, and Mr. Franks over there, and they are gonna relieve you of your weapons.”

“Before they do, ask me what I meant?”

“You’re wasting time.”

“Ask me what I meant.”

He huffed. “What in the hell did you mean by for the most part?”

“You miscounted.”

He furrowed his brow and looked everything over, all the while, doing a silent count. “There’s nine of us.”

“Not your numbers. Our numbers.”

“One – two – three,” he said, sounding annoyed as shit.

I give my head a shake. “You didn’t take the high ground, Thomas.”

“What the devil are you going on about?”

“The firm. We’re all here.” I give my chin a tilt up and looked to the roofs of the buildings on both sides of the street.