The Book of Common

The Finish

After Norms report, we decide best not wait. Jan was might upset it went the way it did. Never seen her cry folks she did, hugged Norm while he cried.
Folks I was ta mad to cry, not at Norm now mind ya he was like a brother ta me. Mad my Pa couldn't stop it! Mad I wasn't around ta stop it! Just angry at myself!

Jan's idea, this folks was the best we could come up with. Me and Jan go over the back wall, blind spot towers won't see us. Behind the barracks the Slavers use. Norm he takes the eastside front tower. Climbs up kills the guards, figured about four in the mornin they be sleepin least ways they were last night.

Me and Jan gets the barracks where they keepin the ladies. Get them out and over the back wall.
Folks this relies on surprise not bein heard nor seen. Norm has ta get his job done real quiet have his Sharps ready ta take out slavers it goes bust.

About two we work our way ta the place we need ta be. Norm said you two gets them out, I can handle shootin those fools. He nods says luck. Folks must say, Norm never forgave himself for doin what he had ta. What follows folks is mine Jan's and Norm's report after the fact.

I will start with Jan's mind ya they may sound different only because each may see thins different. So what Jan seen.

Me and Common just cleared the back wall as the guards turned the corner to move to the front of the barracks. I had a Sharps plus my three pistols, Common his four pistols, Norm had Commons Sharps, so he would have two in the tower.

As we passed the Slavers barracks we could hear snorin and a few coughs and such of those sleepin.
Except for that quiet. We managed to get the barracks with the ladies, with out bein heard nor seen. The two guards just past the front of the barracks as we made the east front corner.

Me and Common hid behind the water barrels. As the guard walked towards the back. I look up at the east tower Norm waves at me. I point ta show Common. We dart ta the front slowly open the barracks door. I had ta kill a sleepin guard slit his throat with my knife, not a sound was made. Common made his way to the far end.

Guard on the far end woke just as his knife tore his throat open. We start wakin the ladies, we can't find Liz. Beth and Common are fit to be tied. Liz is gone, Beth thinks that Lori took her, Ma's daughter.
Common convinced Beth to leave. He would find Liz.

I stayed behind to guide out the ladies. Must of been near a hundred ladies. Got about half maybe less out before the shootin started. Beth took over gettin the rest out. Told her to make for the hill on the east side of stockade.

Dead Slaver near the privy, west end of the stockade started the shootin. I climb the corner of the barracks for the roof. I can hear Norm and his Sharps firin, I start shootin as they come out of the barracks. I don't know where Common is or what he is doin I just keep up the fire. I can see flashes inside the main house windows lower level.

The fight, only lasted about ten minutes. Norm cleared the smaller two houses. I checked the Slaver barracks found one inside shot him dead. Found Common in the main house huggin Liz. Total Slavers includin Ma near thirty all dead, except for Ma we hung her after Common whipped her with her own whip.

Jan Owen
Ranger Corporal, Texas

I made it up to the wall, not bein heard. Climbed corner of the stockade then up the ladder of the tower. Both guards were a sleep, I drove the butt of my rifle into both heads. Twice to make sure they were dead. Took my position watching the other tower and the stockade grounds.

Waved at Jan as they hid behind the water barrels as the guard walked by. Let her know I was in position.

Slaver left the barracks for the privy. I didn't fire till he came out, he must of heard a noise or saw somethin he turned towards Jan and the other ladies. I fired one shot over hundred yards killed him.

Took the two out in the west tower. Then fired at them as came out of the barracks. Cleared the two small houses. Found Ma in one unarmed and hands up. Shouted then cackled at me, new you were a Ranger! Had ta of been! I want ta see General Forsythe Ranger Command Carolina! I pushed her to her knees cuffed her. Told her not hardly and this General best be runnin. We would find him.

Figure the fight lasted half hour, at most.

Norm Parson
Captain Ranger, Carolina

Folks before we move ta my side of the report. We lost none of the Ladies gettin them out. More on that General later. Liz why she was a terror in that main house, well, ya will see. My side folks.

Me and Jan cleared the wall, we saw the two guards turn the corner as we came over the wall.
We could hear those Slavers snorin one may have coughed. We hid behind water barrels as one passed us. Jan pointed ta show Norm was in the tower.

Jan killed the guard at the door, I took the one other end. Killed him he woke just as my knife cut him open. We woke the ladies tellin them ta be quiet we was gettin them out. Found Beth, not Liz. We both about went crazy. I managed ta get her ta leave.

I went lookin for Liz while Jan got those ladies out.
I snuck into the main house. Before I could find Liz all hell broke out! Shots bein fired! I killed two inside before I cleared the second room. Heard four shots and a scream upstairs wasn't Liz's voice! Ran up cleared the three rooms found Liz pistol in hand done shot this lady!

I takes the pistol, Liz is cryin and all. I gets her calmed down. We move outside, folks don't think it lasted more than ten minutes at best. Took Liz up the hill ta Beth.

Delt out Justice ta the one called Ma, whipped her with her own whip. Then hung her, folks went right this time. Only because Jan set the rig.

Now this here General Forsythe, Jan had ta move on, me and Norm found is ass! More on this in a moment, Beth is a callin. Sorry folks, had ta fix that darn pump again. Need ta get parts, thin is about shot, that cork gasket is about done.

Well ya askin just how old was Liz she could shoot? Well Folks almost ten, been workin with her on it, now a year. Shoot almost as good as myself, told me after it was over, she wanted ta Ranger. Folks I was a might proud hearin that.
Well back ta that damn General!

Norm knew him, and where he would be. Post A Ranger Brigade Commander. Well folks we walked right in his Office unannounced and started statin charges against him!

Of course he denied all of them. What I didn't mention that Ma wrote out a death statement he set this all up. Seems he liked those underage girls.
He was the one Norm mentioned his first report from Charles Town. Well, need less ta say hung him. Post Commander did the hangin.

Went wrong folks he choked ta death seems fittin ta me. Least it was a long drawn out death. Those that do such thins with young girls need ta die in such away. Might just stop it!

Don't think it harmed Beth nor Liz in the long term. Both seemed happy few weeks later. Me and Norm had couple ales and a few Corn Lickers before he left. Folks next time I saw him. Why he was dead. Well ya know that story. I know might long winded. Sorry just needed tellin the right way. How ever long it took. Never saw Jan again after. Heard she made General, out Texas way. Hope she did damn fine Ranger.

Of course ya know Liz made Captain as a Ranger. Who knows she may make General. Lan sakes truly hope not, be bad job. Sittin in an office all day at Post! To many blame people! Next time folks ya know what ever comes ta mind.