The Book of Common

Common

Well Folks now ya know why I got Common as
a name. Might hurtful way ta name a child,
double hurtful in it reminds the mother.
She made a mistake, I remember that fool
White calling me a grand mistake, then he'd
say and your mother was too. I still hates that
Fool Man! Even after Justice was Served.

Sandy became a famous writer. She wrote the likes
of, Lady from York City, The Killin of Anna. Danna
well she met a nice feller in Gettysburg, had two
children one named Nora the other Darla two
young girls. Might proud of my sister and Sandy.
Both had great lives. Floyd made sure Momma had
flowers on her grave her birthday and mine. Till
the day he died. Danna made sure he had a great
remaining life. That fool White they probably never found his remains. What was left of him,
that frog face hurt the wrong ladies. Pissed the
wrong Ranger off. Folks may have been overboard
on the punishment. Truly I never did that again,
never even thought it again.

Whats me and Floyd did was justice in the extreme. Ranger should never go that far, just
hopes one never goes that far again. Folks I scared
myself. Enough talk of that fool White. Momma
did the best she could for me, never once said
I was a mistake never! Always had a smile, even
when I'd ask for more food and they was none.
She'd smile and say always tomorrow Common.

Folks my Pa is Chester Howard, Ranger from Virginia ways, my Mommas name was Nora,
from York City. Theys met at a dance while Pa was
healing from wounds and, the sickness that set
in. He would stop in on occasion, never real
friendly but always was happy ta see us. Folks
I am Common, momma didn't name me that Fool
White did my real father, mind ya not a Pa nor a
Dad. Just the Fool that got momma preggers.

I'm a Ranger started out as a York Ranger. I'm a Story Teller not a writer like Sandy, if ya has time
take seat read a little. It be like sittin at a camp
fire listenin to a story spoke. This is my life my
recollections, I may forgets a name or two of a
town, city or a person. What I tells ya is the truth
the best I can remember nothin more or less.

Whats I've told from the beginin is truth Folks except for my namin, I was a might ashamed of
it. Folks I'm Common good or bad way to be
named. I pokes fun at it from time ta time.
Ya know its different, makes it special so's I'll
not let it bother me none.

So I've been ramblin on about thins not really
told a story lan sakes. Not Common for Common
at all. Normally a go off track try and tell ya two
different stories at once. So whats we talk about
here. Give me a minute maybe two.

Oh lets see, I was near Oxford Missasip way.
Ya knowing doin the Ranger thin, patrolling
no assignment. Board to death Folks don't
know how borin just riding enforcing the Law
can truly be. I run into this old timer now I means
old. Not being hurtful here wrinkles beard grey
long grey to white hair full head of hair. Wearin
an old Rangers uniform grey with red pipin.
double breasted button up, brown boots and pistol
belt, cartridge case. His hat turned up in the front.
Big plume of feathers on the hat. Whens we gots
close I could see company A Ohio Ranger.

I says hello Ohio! Long ways from home ain't ya!
He says back at ya York Ranger! Laughs hard about fell off his horse a laughin. He says how about a
coffee then a good touch of whisky? Close to
time to make camp. I looks at him well I says
sure lets you supply the coffee and whisky.
I've got some pickled eggs little bit a beef if that
do?

He smiles sure will, I'm Mike, you be?
Common I says, nice place just ta our left tree
for some shade not low ta hold water ifin it rains.
Don't look like rain never know.

Lets walk over he says need to move some,
sitting on that blame horse way to long. I asks
only sees an Ohio Ranger up North ways in York.
What ya doin down here? He nods well we come
down this way via the Waste Land on occasion.
Just to check the border is all. I'm just a little further south of it. We don't cross normally.
I got family down here just heading back
home is all. I says Waste Land wants no part
of it. Smiles well I don't care for it myself fastest
way back home. We get camp set, eat relax a spell.

I pull out my seal skin and blanket make a cushion
out it sit on it leaning on my saddle. Mike pulls out
a small pillow sits on it pours us a coffee and a whisky nice kind a brown red color. He says this
ain't corn licker ya sip this stuff, hands me the glass. Well Folks that was heaven now, my goodness like honey. Lan sakes man could about
live off it. I smile nod this my friend is good.

Mike said  you know I'm going home, just sit and do nothing. Common I'm tired an old. Want to hear
a story, I've got plenty. Yes um I say could I have a touch more? We both take a little more, Mike gets
started.

Well this is after Missasip and siana and them
tangle in the border war. Seems both sides loose to
many Rangers. They go out looking for youngsters
and some older to train right quick. The guy shows
up at my Dads place. He says Mister see ya got
five boys runnin around. We'll take two off your hands. They'll get an education learn ta read and write do math. Be a Ranger if they can pass the test.

We need one of the younger boys and the oldest boy.
If you can spare them. Dad said what goin to do
for me? Mister the man says, I'll give ya five Lincoln
coppers and two Jefferson for both. Plus you'll be
helping all If they make Ranger. Dad says I'll line them up take two no more. Heard tell you are just
grabbing them up, if I don't agree. Some maybe
doin that not me. He looks us over me and Sam
get picked we both pass. Sam he lives to be about
thirty and gets himself killed over in Tupelo.

I'm still kicking as you can see. I was with Sam
when he got it. We walked out of a saloon
headed over to the hotel. Man came looking
for Sam seems his dad was killed, death sentence.
Sam shot him. We got stopped about half way.

The guy shouts Ranger on the right stop and
face me! Sam stops tells me to step away, no need
for me to get involved. Sam says I can remember
sayin Mister lets just forget it move on!

Well that guy shouts again Mister you killed my
Da you a gona die today! Ranger best be ready!
Sam turns looks the man over, says son might
young to be ending your life. You kill me my
brother have kill you. If ya do gets away with
killing us both, be a hunted man. Sam turns
away Mike he says lets go to the hotel.

As Sam turns the boy shoots him straight in the back. Now you see when this happened pistols
only single shot. He was only carrin one.
I shouts boy you just bought, a death sentence!
I fired once hit him dead center pulled my second
fired it. Reloaded both shot him two more times.
Rage Common pure rage is all. Sorry normally
tell a better story.

Well he takes a long drink not a sip, good hard
drink.  Is eyes they all watery and such looks
ready to just cry. I don't say a word. Let him
pull himself together. Mike pours us another.
I says don't want take all that good stuff.

Common I told ya I am heading home. Won't be
needing it where am going. He gets that far off
look, seen so many times before. Ranger gets
them soldiers do too. Tired fed up want just
sleep die give up. Most bounce out of it. Mike
I think is done. They call it goin home.
He smiles at me, Common want you to know
somethin I feel badly shootin that boy four
times. Twice make sure two more, never should
had done it. We sat talked about what ever came
ta mind. Almost finished that whisky, don't know
when I fell asleep, woke ta find Mike dead.

Note left on his saddle Common I went home.
Please stick me in the ground. Nice ground here.
Want you have the rest of the whisky, got my
pistol in a bag long with my map book. You
can have it. Don't Ranger to long it a get ya in
the end. Might happy to of met you.
Mike

Well Folks the Old Timer seemed nice might
sorry for him. Just hopes I don't get that way.
I'd rather go out fightin not givin up. Mike
well put him in the ground. Rode off ta where
ever. Tear in my eye Folks lan sakes long winded
sorry all. Told that story of Mike's from his point
didn't want ta ruin it. Next time Ya know what
ever.