Just Common

The Mosser Family

Thanks fer comin back folks, an I do mean that, I think even that Dram12 ya know Tim means it also. Well get seated find that log or piece a ground, take a seat hope ya brought a drink along. I gots my crocker full a coffee an corn licker, gots the fire goin ta take the chill off.

Folks, Beth she a bit angry at me, say I spend ta much time, a tellin my stories. I say hell honey come out sit with us. Might just learn few thins more about me, folks she tell me, heard all thum stories five times over. Don't think I told thum five times over. Hell we ain't be married that blame long. I gots more stories than we been married in years. Truth be told, maybe I do spend ta much time, a tellin my stories. They is mine, ta tell. Well the Mosser family folks, what Joe tell me. We begin now, so shall we.

Folks, Joe knew more than I have found out about the Mosser family. Even more than Miss Virginia tell me. Like most well off folk, they have hidden secrets that they want kept out the public ear. The Mosser's made they trinkets off importin coffee an cocoa, from Middle America. Some say, they were even inta slave trade. Ya see folks, those from Mid America like our fair-skinned ladies. Whether they be Asian, Black, or White. The Hispanic, they didn't take thum, well guess because they look like thum, hell I don't know the whys.

Just know, ifin they did do slave trade, Ranger Command didn't know about it. That folks  is the one offense Ranger Command keeps track of, more so than any other crime. Folks slavery an the movement of slaves ta or from the 13 Lands, is a crime that takes yar house an all ya own. Then auction it off fer the Land, no other family member gets it, even those that are innocent. Then of course the death penalty, folks a Ranger can't interpret the Law on that,  death an all thins owned are sold fer the use of the Land. No other Judgement can be rendered.

Joe say, most think they were killed, over poor quality slaves they sent down, or maybe because they wanted out the slave trade. Joe say, ya can't get out the slave trade. Folks he is right, more than few tried an were killed. I asks ya think they were traders? Joe nods an say, Ranger lived on this island all my life. Till the Mosser's built they house. We never had ships anchor off the island at night like we had after they built they house.

Then I asks, do ya think Fred, could be the killer I am lookin fer? Joe stopped the wagon, set the brake looked off ta the ocean. Thought a spell, then say, some thought he was different. Not right in the mind, others say he liked men. Ya know took ta men folk, like ya know bed thum. He tell me once, he heard voices in his head. He didn't say much else than that. When he was young him an my boy spent time tagether they fished done few thins.

So Fred he talked ta me, think is Father just didn't understand him, or didn't care. I say, ya think Fred could kill, maybe do thins like surgery? Joe, I need ta know what ya think. He say, he did have some medical school, Ranger, not certain, but maybe just maybe he could kill.
Just sayin I don't know ifin he is right in the mind.

They was one girl, that turned up missin, when Fred was near of age. Fred spent time with her, like they was courtin. We never found her, nothin pointed ta Fred. My son Ted, went ta work fer the Mosser's. Ain't heard from him in years. Went up ta Saint Louis, say he work makin chocolate last I heard from him. Been about two year ago. I sent word ta Miss Genny, askin about Ted. She never replied. I asks, Miss Virginia, tell me some about her.

Folks this is where it gets, strange more so than just bein secretive. Joe say, Miss Virginia or Genny what he calls her. Was sickly as a child, he didn't see or even hear Fred talk of her. Till two year after the elder Mosser's died.  Folks the house been empty fer four year, about the same time the Killins started. Joe say Fred just say he was leavin an his sister Virginia would be down in a few days. That he say was maybe ten year ago.

He say ifin Fred was here Miss Genny wasn't there. Ifin Miss Genny was there Fred wasn't. Joe say, Miss Genny an Fred looked a lot alike. Then he added Fred always looked more girlish than manly. He say could a been he just didn't do what most boys did. Except fer the few months he was on the island. That wealthy city life. Miss Genny is the one, got Ted his job. So I am beholden ta her. Got my Ted Iff this island inta a job he could make out better at.

I asks, how long Ted been gone, when did Miss Virginia stop comin? Ted been gone four year, just like Miss Genny. Folks, maybe it's Ted. Just maybe he is the murderer. Not Fred, like Miss Virginia think. Folks didn't want ta asks, but I did. Joe, no harm meant against ya or yar son. Think Ted could a done those murders? It wasn't more than a blink of an eye. No Sir, Ranger Ted, never harm even a bird, let alone a person. Ted couldn't even help slaughter a hog, clean a fish. Ted was a touch squeamish about blood. Folks, Joe tied that mule ta the wagon, an got me back ta Deb.

She say ta late ta sail back, I was welcome ta stay the night. Folks she fixed shrimp some fish an grits fer supper. We had a touch a whisky after. Then I asks her about the Mosser family. This what she tell me.

The Mosser family were, friendly just they tended ta stick with those, that had trinkets. The friendly one she met, was after the older Mosser's were killed. She say Miss Genny, always had a smile. She loved the beauty of the island. She say she brought Miss Genny ta the island fer her first time. The one strange thin she say stands out, Miss Genny acted as ifin she had been ta the Mosser house befer. She seemed ta know what stream ta enter.

She say, could be she heard enough stories of the place, ta have a good idea where that stream would be. I did find she seemed ta talk like she had been here befer. Yet she always say, I brought her here fer her first time. She say, what ya might not know, Ted the son of Joe, over at the Wade place, had feelins fer her, my thinkin is Genny had the same feelins. That now I could be wrong.

That about all I know on the Mosser family only than talk. I asks what talk is that? She say, most know or think they were slave traders, that is the reason the older ones died. That one I a believe, the other, now not sure I'd should say this. I think it total bunk. I tell her I need all I can get. Miss Genny is Fred, or Fred is Miss Genny, Deb say.

People talk, say they act an look close enough ta be the same. Never met Fred, but I don't think a man could pull off bein a lady. Least ways not full time, an fool young fella that had feelins fer her. I say what about a lady pullin off bein a man? That Sir has been done befer, ya know befer they let ladies be Rangers. Few dead ones were found ta be ladies, now weren't they. I say yessum wasn't a Ranger then, but I heard tell of it. 

I asks is that it? She say yessum that be it. She poured us another drink. Say after how about some sheet time, she smiled, folks ain't one turn down, time in the sheets with a lady. Next mornin Deb took me back ta Mobile. Won't tell ya about my roll in sheets, that ain't gentlemanly at all.

I gots back ta the Madison, Doc say letter was sent ta the Mobile Enquire, think ya best look at It befer it hits the paper. I say Sam White Hell, he kill Miss Helen! Doc say not certain ain't read it, it's in a sealed envelope. I sit say give me the letter, pour me a whisky we both may need one. Folks, the letter might different this time. Ta say the least. So here it is.

To my Nemesis Ranger Common

My heard tell, of your movement about town. When I gots my next beauty. Poor fool Reggie, he won't last long. Poison one of my cohorts slipped him poison. He should be dead, by now. Or has it happened yet? No Ranger Common you should get word, soon on his demise.

Besides why should it matter, the death sentence and all. I know you wouldn't let him live, because of Norma. Ranger, I've not harmed Miss Helen, at least not yet. Of course, I could be lying. Oh, no worry, Common it won't be long, till the deed is done. Catch me Ranger if you can!

Your Nemesis, Death, Jacko, Reaper

Folks, they sent word, Reginald was killed most likely poisonin. Doc came ta the same results. It's been a day since that letter. No deaths like his normal work. None that look like Miss Helen. Guess this is a good place ta stop. Till next time, ifin they is one.

Thanks for reading, so any clue as to who it is?
The killer of course. Please vote comment, and thanks for your support.