When Jail is not Arrest.
© Robert Faulkender hhtp://robertfaulkender.com
The two older children were following the sheriff in single file until Ted looked at the youngest sitting the saddle. He barked over his shoulder. “You two come walk with me.” He took the bucket away from Sarah and handed it up to Danny.
“If the kid dozes off, maybe he’ll drop the bucket and wake before he falls.” He spoke more to himself then to the others.
The three walked along in front of the horse: the sheriff holding the reins, Sarah next to him and Joseph, flanking his sister.
“Where you kids from?”
Joseph answered. “Missisip, sah.”
“How is it you are out here alone? Where are your parents?”
“Dey’s dead.” Joseph spoke without emotion.
Sarah added. “Dey die of da fever.”
Ted thought that made sense. There was a yellow fever epidemic in the lower Mississippi valley —it still was a problem. “They die along the Mississippi river?”
“No, sah, not till we gets to the Red.” said Joseph. “We gets as far as dat riber whilest go’n to Kansas to meets wif Pap Singleton, but den the fever come on.”
“And your family left Mississippi just like that?”
“Not azakly.”
Joseph explained that a white man representing the Singleton settlement west of Topeka was to guide them into the territory. Seemed the man left them as soon as their pappy came down with the fever.
Sarah spoke flatly. “Mamie catch da fever, too, and she say we gots to go. Follow the riber she say. So we does – ‘till Danny drops a rock on his foot.” She shot a disgusted look over her shoulder at her little brother.
Skillman processed the information. It was too wild not to be likely. “How did you get the rifle, Joseph?”
“Pappy gived to me afor he die. He gets from his pappy aft da wawr. Grand pap fights wif Union at Nor Lens.”
Skillman could see Holliday in the distance, and his attention shifted to what to do next. Very quickly he must reconcile these little thieves with the town’s folk. The three were going to need help.
“You kids’ been doing the stealing around town?” It was more a statement than a question.
Joseph was quick to respond. “Warn’t no stealing, Massar Sharf. We gived back in kind.”
“And that’s to your credit, Joseph.” The boy’s chin came up.
No lame excuses there.
Skillman wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he would start with proper shelter and finding Doc.
It was dusk. The edge of town was just ahead. Skillman stopped, and spoke so Danny, on the horse, could hear, too. “Here’s how it’s going to be. I’m bunking you kids in my office for starters, and then having Doc come see your little brother.”
Three blank black faces stared at the ground…
“And, I ‘spect you might be hungry, too.”
Heads up. Smiles all around for the first time that day--maybe even longer.
Sheriff Skillman had a hard time arresting children-- especially three kids with as much courage as any adult; but the law is the law...
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