The Book of Common

The Worry

Folks, I am still lookin at those graves, pondering what next! Sam White Hell! What ta do! Beth Liz ya don't worry now! Old Common think of somethin. Norm looked at me says Common no worries, we'll think of somethin.

Jan she looks out over the Stockade, gotta have way ta get in. Some way ta sneak in. Let's all think on it a spell. Then we talk see if can come up with anythin. Folks I'm not one ta argue when I'm not even sure. I says we'll think on it, talk in the mornin. I'll take first watch, Norm says I'll do second. Jan smiles good get ta sleep most of the night, needs my beauty sleep.

Norm and I both laugh, she don't need none Folks pretty as can be. Why has nice lookin as Beth.
Folks I watch and listen, guard walks the wall two, one at both towers. Guard walk the barracks and main house and HQ two. Rest looks like they sleep during the night. Shift change about four hours.
I wake Norm about midnight Jan a take over from three till daylight. Couldn't sleep folks pulled a little longer watch.

Ideas are forming in my head, think between us three we might figure out somethin. Norm rubs his eyes stretches some. Then smiles get some rest, be worthless if ya don't. Folks I do sleep till daylight. Wow feels better, think I even think clearer. Jan had hard bread few pieces of dried beef out for us, we split an ale. She tells us about five they pulled the walkin guards off duty. By daylight just one tower guard.

Norm says timed those walkin guards about eight minutes between them meetin again at the main house. Tower guards spend most of the time lookin into the Stockade, or sleepin.

I adds only five at most up and movin past ten, main house had lanterns burnin till about eleven.
We have them, inside we can watch another night. Then make a plan, seems like the timin could be right for sneak in about five or right before it.

They both agree, we watch another night. We also say best set up other side of the hill. Keep from bein seen and all. About dark we move ta watch ways we did before. Folks I am still worried as all gets out. Have they hurts my Liz? Beth ya know she was a Pleasantry worker tough lady. She can take it. Still might mad they hurt her, those that did best die now! What's they'd get is far worse!

Remember White! Don't ya! Hurt either one my ladies biggest mistake ya could make. Pa will be avenged also, Slavers or the lowest of the low!
Well, we rode the perimeter of the Stockade far out ta see if they had pickets set. Folks one way in old trial about grown over. Can tell though it's bein used again. No pickets no watch outside the gates.

We did have ta hide, fancy stage went by us. Jan shook her head, bet that's a payin customer. To fancy a ride not to.

Norm nodded, yep to fancy. Then he smiles, speakin of fancy. Gots my good clothes for parties and such with me! Might just take a trip into town.
Bet theys not a lot of fancy people around. Could be I gets a look inside!

Folks I don't know, but we do need a look see. I says best do it now, Norm! Still early gets back before dark. Norms nods says bye your leave. I says no bye yours. Jan says luck Norm.

Well folks this is what happens, Norm some how does pull off bein high class big spender. How a poor Ranger did that well, still amazed folks. Comes ta find out, Norm had trinkets stashed away.
That fool Norm carried almost five hundred Jefferson on him plus hundred Lincolns and fifty Washington. Folks that horse must been feelin that.

Well this is how Norm put it, his story folks.

Jan took my horse back, with my Ranger uniform and all but one of my guns. Kept my belly pistol.
I rode the stage in from outside town. First the driver wanted me to ride on top. Fellow inside said he isn't common folk he as stature. So rode inside a full up coach. Six total all men of stature.

One maybe but, six has to be they are coming here for pleasure. Town of Tanner only a stage stop one Inn nothing but the stage depot. Those six didn't leave the depot, so I did the same. Acting like I knew what I was doin. Fancy stage pulls up, mean dirty fella comes in, Gentleman welcome. I must see at least the total of twenty Jefferson or one Gold coin.

Fella says they is one extra, looking at me. I says heard about this from a man Atlanta ways. Like what I heard, so came out here. Fella says gots the trinkets Mister. I shows him well over is statement.
He says fine, you are in for some real fun! Laughing.

Stage took an hour, deathly quiet ride. Seems men that gets off on pain and such are quiet. The coach stops at the main house. Lady callin herself Ma greets us. Talks slow and almost like she is not sure of the words she wants to use. She said greetings my fellow deviants. Your pleasure is our job. Please come into the main house. Then we'll talk your pleasure. Have a drink also. Cut that road dust away. 

We each had a visit with Ma, my turn came. Not a word about me bein out of place not on the list so to speak. Well, the hard part she asks what my pleasure was. I said I like to be rough and such maybe a little hard with the ladies. Then I added want some one new, just in. Also like to pick her.

Ma didn't much like that, I tossed fifty Jefferson on the table, that more than covers it!
Ma says yes indeed it will. The new ones are in the barracks. You can check them out, private rooms another five Lincoln. So toss seven out, for your trouble I say. This makes her smile half her front teeth are gone. Ma takes me over, explains none these been touched. The one's she took for her men's pleasure are gone, then she smiles and cackles.

The younger image of Ma was inside she had one close to twelve scaring her somethin terrible like.
I won't go into details, it made me sick and mad.
Ma said that younger one, can't have. She is special for one coming from Charles Town. Took a long while to find just what he wanted. She was lookin straight at Liz, Beth moved her to the back of her.

Well then the one with her looks like her mom, I'll take her. Ma cackled again good choice she has fire. Beat it out of her! Your Pleasure is our concern. Well grab her up follow me, Ma says. I pulled Beth along tuggin and such. Beth Common I am sorry this had to happen.

First thin I noticed was holes in the cielin and a lot of mirrors. Folks some get off on watchin I guess. Ma watched as we entered the room, she smiled I like ta watch, so best make me smile. See don't know who you are, have ta watch the first time. After hey be all yours to do alone.

Beth mouths, we gots maybe a minute. Best hit me hard! Norm, gets us both killed! Ya don't!

I took my suspenders off, hit her across the back. Each hit I could see she felt it needed to be more real. Time I was done, her dress was ripped to pieces, I pulled her head up to look at her. You'll do I'll be back later!  That Ma was grinnin ear ta ear at me, that nasty cackle goin on.

She asked what do you mean she will do? Told her wanted her and that girl, recon it is her daughter.
I'd buy both them. Her reply I don't sell them, make more. Lettin people like you do thins to them. Told me last stage was leavin. I best hurry. Stage ride was quiet on the way back.

Driver pulled me aside, Mister don't care who you are, what ya do with the ladies. Ma said, bring an extra two Jefferson, would get the young one and her Ma. Do what ya like with them. That gets ya two hours alone. I just nod manage a smile.

I would like to add I never wanted to hurt Beth or hit her that hard. Never expected someone ta watch. Least Beth knows we are here.
Norm Parson
Ranger Captain

Folks few thins before we stop. Norm did what he needed ta do. It pains me so, ta know this. He cried while tellin me that and writin it. I know Beth probably did give him the look like harder fool gets us all three killed. Norm I holds no ill will towards ya. Beth never hated Norm after. Norm did stop writin and such, no more visits after it was over. Lost a good friend, man helped save my family nough said on that.

Next time we finish this up. I promise I gets madder by the word!