Horrible Harvest

I stepped outside, climbed atop my mount and sent the mare into a trot to the barn where I fount Charles carrying his boy on his shoulders. He looked concerned and unsurprised to see me. He set the boy on the ground and told him to get on to the house. The child give me a good once over and then run to the house where his momma stood in the backyard.

“Who’s that?” Charles asked, pointing to Douglas’ body.

“Douglas.”

“You kill him?”

“No. Mr. Stockton did. I kilt Mr. Stockton. And Mr. Miller – He’s dead, too.”

“And now I’m next, I s’pose.”

I let a gush of wind swirl around me ‘fore I said, “The body won’t keep. I’ve got a long journey ahead. He should be buried back in Charleston, by all rights, but the fucking body won’t keep.”

“If you say so.”

“You Christian?”

“Not particularly. It crept up on me a little during the war, but never cared for Christians enough to become one whole hog.”

“Your wife?”

“No.”

“Douglas was.”

“Douglas? Christian?”

“One of the good ones.”

“Why you telling me this?”

“‘Cause I want you to bury him – Here on your land, and I want you to say something over him – Something Christian. For him. For his wife. Then get word to her – Gladys Tennyson – In care of Grace Tennyson – The Lord Delivers Church of Hope in Charleston. Let her know where you buried Douglas and the words you said over him.”

He give a nod. “I can do that.”

“You look confused.”

“I guess I am.”

“About?”

“Can’t figure you out. Why ain’t you done what you come here to do?”

“How do you know what I come here to do?”

“‘Cause, I know you. I know me. If things was turnt reverse, I’da already drawn down on you.”

I turnt to look at his wife and boy and then looked back at him. “That day’ll come.”

“But not today?”

“Not today.”

“Why?”

I untied Douglas’s horse from my saddle horn and threw the reins to the ground. Then I cajoled my pale ride to make a 180-degree turn and started my way eastward.

“Why, goddamn it? Why?”

“‘Cause,” I said, without halting my horse’s stride. “If you’ve changed like your woman says, living with what you done – What you took from me – That seems more fitting – For now – I’m bound to change my mind – Someday. If you see me again, you’ll know that’s the day.”

I felt the ghost of doubt give me chase as I headed east.