Just Common

Chester Howard -II

Folks sorry, Beth knows, when I am tellin my stories. Thats I shouldn't be bothered. Well, next mornin Clara came with that evidence. Very damnin evidence, my her Father was inta smugglin an Slavery. Plus he was the town Mayor, Folks this a make thins even harder.

Clara say, her Father is just evil the common folk can't live, right with him around. Clara say, it's hard ta turn him in. She doesn't feel Slavery is right. Ta smuggle, that is wrong, but at least it ain't sellin people. Pa say, we need to catch him with slaves on the property. Clara say, they is 50 on the property now, be a movin thum tanight.

Pa looked at me, an say Common we best get ready.
We need ta leave soon as we can. He told Clara ta go on home. Ifin that was her normal day. Clara say the slaves are kept in buildin west end of her father's property.

Folks while I strapped on both my pistols, grabbed my Sharps an saber. Pa say slow down Common. We need ta talk, Pa say son this might get nasty. Slavers no they is no way around the death penalty. So they goin ta fight us much harder than others. Make every shot count, remember we have each other. I nodded, at least I could make spit.

While I saddled my horse, Pa he say we go straight ta the office ask ta see, the buildin on the west end.
Son, Pa say, they ain't goin ta let us see it. Be ready that's when, this here thin will gets ugly. Then shook his head, say well, lets ride.

As we rode towards, the Mayors home, an his office my mouth gots dry, lan sakes can't make spit. My neck an arms commenced ta sweat. I say Pa, the worry, has set in. Pa smile an say, all normal Common, relax boy. Folks all normal, has ta tell ya it is normal. Been doin this fer years still gets that way.

Felt like all eyes were on us, as we rode towards, what may come. We tied off or horses, Pa messed with his hat, checked the slide of his pistol against the holster. Of course I did the same, only I shook just a touch. Pa he took in a deep breath, knocked on the door. Clara answered the door, Pa say, Ranger Chester Howard, ta see Mayor Callaghan, please. Clara say, Father a Ranger Howard ta see ya. I heard send thum in.

Folks sorry, just gots ta say, my Pa Chester, why he never looked scared, not once did I see him look thats away.

Mayor say, have a seat, Pa he say, think we a stand. I was eyein the doorway. Pa say straight out, we have information, that they is slaves on yar property. We would like ta check all out buildins please. Folks the Mayor, well he showed no sign a fear or worry. He flat out say, by what right! Ya need ta show me proof, befer I let ya see!

Pa handed him, the papers with, all the tallies of Chattel moved the months previous. Pa say Chattel sir means people or slaves moved an sold! The Mayor say, this is false! This is fake, ya can't check anythin! Pa, well, he pushed his hat up with his right trigger finger then locked his thumb in his holster belt near his pistol, an say ya can't stop this. I'd let us check thum out.

Folks the Mayor did look rather shocked, like he knew nothin about slaves. When Pa say, he would like ta start on the western side the property. Why the Mayor laughed ain't used those buildins in years. Go on check thum! I ain't got a thin ta hide! Then he say an I'll come along. Pa he smiled an say ya were comin along any ways. Folks either this Mayor don't know a thin or he is the best lier I've ever seen.

I remember once, they was fella that could lie. Hell the man didn't show sign of it. Best darn lier I ever saw. Only way I figured out, it was all lies, well followed all his facts an found that he lied ta me. Oh hell on track Common! I'll hold the story a tick ifin ya need a drink folks. One an a two an a three an a four an a five an a six an a seven. Ready? Good an let's go!

Pa say, an yar daughter needs ta come along also. What is Pa thinkin puttin a lady in danger? Folks my level a tension just climbed a might high!

Heard Clara as she looked in the office say I'm goin ridin Father. Lan sakes she was a wearin britches an plaid shirt. My goodness looked a might nice she did. The Mayor say, best ride ta the west side the property with us. Clara nodded say I'll have Jack saddle two horses. Jack not his name folks, can't rightly remember his name, so I'll use Jack.

As we approached the buildin I saw several men a watchin us. Mayor say, who are those men, none look familiar. Then he say Clara ya know those men? Asked again folks, Clara wouldn't answer.

Clara shouted an kicked her horse ta run! She shouted, shoot thum boys! Lan sakes, they was bangs an cracks! The Mayor was shot as I kicked my horse ta charge at thum! Pa, done took off a shoutin come on son! Folks don't know when I drew my 36, but I fired and screamed like a fool!

I pulled my cross draw, just as I slid off my horse!
Why in hindsight, Pa looked ta be dancin as he fired an spun ta aim at another man! Folks all this slowed down, like my mind just knew I was a goner. I got one! As I turned ta check my right! Folks I ran plum up the middle! Towards Pa, firin fast as I could! Next thin I know silence like the type ya only hear yar heartbeat! Folks I was breathin hard, sweat was runnin down my neck.

I didn't see Pa so I shouted Pa! He didn't answer, Clara came out, I pistol-whipped ya Pa! Folks she gave me a look, I holstered my pistol! My right hand raised ta my shoulder pistol drew an fired!

Dear me! Folks Clara didn't shout nor scream as the blood sprayed from her throat! Folks befer I saw that I about doubled over! Oooh lan sakes I been shot! I felt around the hole in my shirt. Why it hit my book! I was might happy an pissed at the same time! Folks ya know books ain't cheap!

Pa, Chester, he was fine. Had a rather large headache an big knot a few weeks. Pa came out fine. Pa, turned me over fer my second ride. Few weeks later, ta Tam one the best lady Rangers I've met.  She took me ta the Carolina's that's where we met my good friend an mentor Norm Parson. Tam wouldn't train me, she say she was ta young ta train me. She did stay, ta make sure Norm was a good Ranger an man.

Folks later Pa told me that he knew all along Clara was the slaver. This he learned at that Station. He didn't want ta say afraid I might say the wrong thin. Pa say, just sometimes ya don't know when ta shut up, Common! Of course I don't folks, I am Common don't mean I have common sense! Do it!

Folks they was slaves in that buildin 50 of thum. Seems Clara thought she blame her father she could build her enterprise bigger. The Mayor he died, Pa left a lady in charge a town, till they could decide on new Mayor.

Folks Chester my Pa, is still livin. He just few miles from the Station, he don't Ranger anymore. He stops by the Station ta tell his stories. Lan sakes most thum are embarrassin ta say the least.

Why ya say, Pa tells stories about me! An it sounds like I was a stupid young fella. Folks I probably was, he is my Pa, shouldn't do thins like that.

Wants ta tell ya little bout, this Station me an Beth call home. Place ain't over large, we gots a good size kitchen ta feed six Rangers or guests waitin on the stage. Place doubles as stage depot. So few waitin on the stage look over my stories or listen ifin I am tellin one. The Station Common.

We have a sleepin room, off ta the left that has 6 bunks. The right side is mine an Beth's place. The Station office an supply house is the front two rooms Rangers get supplies an can sit around talk a spell along with the people that are takin the stage. Folks it is just the place the town gathers ta have some conversation or just relax. Till dark then they move on home or the saloon.

Folks that is why, bein a Station Master can get hard. All those blame people. Sometimes I just miss roamin the Lands. Hell then I would just miss Beth an Liz. So folks guess I shouldn't complain.

Less I fergets do have a stable it holds twelve horses fer Rangers or the stage ifin they need fresh horses. So folks it is a right nice place. Well, folks time ta close the shutters on the supply room an lock it. Light the coal lanterns out front Beth left some cornbread an biscuits out, fer the Rangers ifin they are hungry the bunk room door is open.
I am done fer the day, till next time. Ifin they is one.

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