Bloodline of a Kane (Kane Family Saga) Page 5

  for the crops they would plant. The work was hard, but they

  were persistent and in two months they had built all the

  cabins.

  Progress was swift and each day they accomplished

  more. It had been nearly three months since they had taken

  over the post. Because of their fair dealings with everyone,

  they had amassed a great deal of trade goods and even a good

  bit of gold.

  They had to build extra storage space for the goods,

  as they were getting customers from far and wide. They were

  expecting the suppliers to come thru at any time.

  No one had come inquiring about the missing

  soldiers, but Wilber knew that soon they would. By Wilber

  being the sole white man in the settlement, they named it after

  him. “OGILVEY” There was a big sign with the name at

  each end of the settlement.

  Word began to spread about the new town and

  homesteaders started moving into the area; black, white and

  Native Americans. Soon the population increased and there

  were nearly 200 people in Ogilvey. As with any large

  gathering there was bound to be some trouble.

  * CHAPTER # 6 *

  The white settlers had built on one side, the blacks and natives on the other. There was close to 100 whites and the town would soon be in need of someone to uphold the law. Due to the times, it could only be a white man.

  The supplies came and soon others built their businesses around the trading post.

  The U.S department had sent a detachment of soldiers in search of the missing troopers, but it was to no avail. In nine months Ogilvey had close to 350 people and had become segregated.

  A bad element moved into town and the black and native townsfolk were being harshly treated, despite Wilber doing all he could to keep down racial incidents.

  The Bird Clan had increased their land holdings. They had 2,000 head of cattle and 500 horses. They had acres of crops and most of the black and natives worked for them. They had moved about ten miles from town, since large numbers of whites had moved there. And they were still partners with Wilber in five or six businesses.

  A man by the name of Willis Grimsley had moved to town and brought five hard cases with him. All of the blacks and natives feared Willis, except for the Bird Clan. Willis Grimsley was a small, sallow skinned, pinched face man. Simmie Lukes was his right hand man. A big blond man.

  Willis had opened his own saloon and soon Wilber’s only catered to the social outcast. Willis wouldn’t serve the blacks at all, though he had a shed out back that he served the assorted Braves rot gut whisky from. The town had grown so large that it was a true need for law enforcement.

  It was only natural that Wilber was the Mayor, as the whites had established a town council. The town council was influenced by Willis and soon two of his men served as Sheriff and deputy.

  Wilber knew there would be trouble and there was little he could do to prevent it. He had seen similar scenarios and could prophecy what the outcome would be. Inwardly he quaked, for he knew that death was in the forecast. A few of Wilber’s trapper friends had moved into the area on the outskirt with their Indian and black wives. They had heard that the small town of Ogilvey was tolerant to their domestic situations, children’s lives and futures were in the balance.

  * * * * Jerry Vine was the sheriff of Ogilvey. Vine was a tall rangy man, slim but with corded muscles that bulged thru his too tight clothes. He thought of himself as a Dandy and dressed the part. Off white low crown Stetson, crème colored broadcloth jacket and tan riding breeches that fit almost like a second skin. A beige waistcoat, off white shirt with brown string tie and a thick gold chain that swung between the two pockets of the waistcoat. He wore highly glossed nut brown cowboy boots, with big, shiny, silver Mexican rowel spurs. On his hips hung a beautifully constructed holster. In them were two blue black Colt 45’s with oiled walnut grips. He was a gunfighter of renown. He had killed eight men and had developed a taste for death.

  Lester Whitted was his long time companion and partner, an equally dangerous man. Where Vine was a sharp, clean man, Lester was dirty, vicious and sadistic. He was a small, dark haired, weasel faced man with buck teeth and a ragged beard. His clothes were so dusty and dirty that you couldn’t tell what color they actually were. The only way to describe them, was earth toned. Vine was the only one who could control Lester.

  Willis, Vine, Lukes, Lester and two more of their men sat with Clem Hartfield and Alex Mews in the back of Willis’s saloon. Clem was a big mountain man from the hills of Kentucky. Alex was a short rotund man, he had huge hands and was exceptionally strong.

  Willis looked at the men gathered, then said. “Fellows we’ve got a golden opportunity here. Word has spread that Ogilvey is a very good town, prosperous and growing. The railroad is planning to bring a spur thru, going straight up to New York. What we need is to be able to get all the land we can in Nigger Town. We can sell it back to the railroad and get rich in the process.”

  “I like the sound of that,” said Vine. “But what do we do after we sell the railroad the land?”

  “If they put a depot here that means we get all of the business. We sell the railroad water, coal, wood and anything else they need. It will keep the money coming and we can live like Barons.” said Willis.

  “So what’s the plan?” asked Lukes.

  “We need an excuse to kill off some niggers and some Indians.” His eye’s twinkling with pleasure.

  “You know the Mayor is a nigger and a Injun lover.” said Axel.

  “That’s true,” Clem chanted.

  “Well that means if he gets in the way he’ll meet with a nasty accident.” Willis said laughing.

  The other men laughed too.

  A few day’s later Gantry Smith was in the Blacksmith shop with his son Lijah. Gantry was huge, 6’5”, and a muscled 350 pounds. His son Lijah at 17 was nearly as big, 6’2”, 240 pounds, he too was a blacksmith. They stood next to the forge as Gentry pumped the bellows to fan the fire.

  “Pa, we need to talk.” said Lijah.

  “Son, I know what it’s about and I’ve had my say. Can’t no good come of you seein that white woman. This world ain’t ready for that yet, hell may never be ready for it. They can do what they want to us, but the ground ain’t nowhere near level boy.”

  “Pa, I love Bess.” said Lijah pleadingly.

  “Forget her boy, I ain’t asking you I’m telling you. Find a woman among your own, there are plenty of pretty girls.”

  “I want Bess Pa, none of the others. She feel’s the same way.” said Lijah.

  “What you know bout love? Not a damn thing, but let me tell you this boy. That women ain’t worth the grief she’ll bring you. All they need is an excuse and you’re dead. Don’t you see that, the way they treat us?”

  “My mind’s made up Pa, and I’m gonna be with Bess.” said Lijah firmly.

  “In that case, I guess I better go see the carpenter.” said Gantry.

  “What for Pa?” asked Lijah.

  “To get three coffins built, for you, me and your Ma.” Gantry replied hollowly.

  “It ain’t that bad Pa. Look at the white men that got black wives or Indian wives. Look at the Indian men with black wives.” said Lijah.

  “Yeah, look at them. You don’t see a single Blackman with a white woman, no Indian with a white woman. What does that tell you?” Gantry asked.

  “You don’t understand.” said Lijah storming from the shop.

  Gantry shook his head and released the handles of the bellow, washed his hands, put on his hat and headed to see Chany Woods the carpenter. He was resigned to the fate that he knew was ahead. If they killed his boy, they would have to kill him too.

  * * * * Lijah stood in the empty shed at the back of the Melman’s property. The floor was spread with blankets. As he stood in the darkness, he
heard a soft rustling sound and stood even stiller.

  “Lij,” whispered Bess Melman.

  “I’m here.” Lijah whispered.

  Bessie Melman was a big corn feed white girl of 15.

  Her breast were full, her hips wide and well rounded. He took her into his arms and they tumbled to the blankets, where they frantically undressed. In no time she had guided him in and they were thrusting and bucking wildly. So deep were they into their love making that they never heard the door open. Only the moon light shining thru the door on their thrashing bodies and the roar Dan Melman made when he spied them, alerted them to his presence.

  “My god!” he roared.

  “Pappa,” Bess moaned in the throes of her orgasm. Lijah’s head spun around at the sound and he saw

  Dan standing there with the lamp in one hand and the pistol in the other. Dan Melman screamed , “you bastard!” then pointed the pistol and fired.

  Lijah had started to roll from between Bess’s legs and the bullet missed him and slammed right into Bess, between the milky white twin mounds of her breast.

  Blood spurted upward as she moaned out, “OH” then slumped back to the floor. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and her glazed green eyes locked on her father.

  Lijah sprung up from the floor and attacked Dan. Dan was momentarily stunned, but he had heard the rumor his daughter was seeing a nigger. He vowed to kill them both if it was true, so he wasn’t completely out of it. He spun, his gun still pointing at the ground, and fired it. The big slug smashed into Lijah’s knee, and blew it apart. Bone splinters and blood splashed the night, as Lijah crashed to the floor at Dan Melman’s feet.

  “Oh no nigger, it ain’t gone be that easy. You gonna be an example to the other nigger’s and redskins. We ain’t tolerating this shit.” Then he swung his gun down viciously and clubbed Lijah in the head.

  Lijah slumped and tried to shake the ringing in his skull out.

  Dan clubbed him again and again, until Lijah was unconscious. His head was a bloody mess.

  Dan Melman looked quickly around trying to fix a scenario that would protect his daughter’s image. He spotted a big knife sheathed to Lijah’s belt. He pulled the big knife and walked to where Bess lay. He lifted her to see did his bullet penetrate and saw that it didn’t. Gently he laid her back, then plunged the big knife in the gunshot wound. He found rope, and tied Lijah, then walked back to the house and woke his wife Verna.

  “Honey, Bess is dead. That nigger raped and killed her.”

  Verna screamed, “NOOOO…. My baby!”

  “Calm down honey, that nigger is going to pay. I got him tied up in the shed, and I’m gonna get Terry to go get the Sheriff.”

  Verna buried her head in his chest and sobbed uncontrollable.

  “Terry…Terry,” shouted Dan loudly.

  A big boned young man of 16, Terry Melman, was the spitting image of his father.

  “Go get the Sheriff right away son.” said Dan

  “What’s wrong Pa?” asked Terry.

  “Get the Sheriff son, I’ll tell you when you come back.”

  Terry looked at his father, and hurried from the room.

  * * * * Vine and Lester, left Clem and Axel in town as they rode with Terry to the Melman’s place. When they arrived they were met by Dan, who led them to the shed. “My Lord!” shouted Terry as he saw his sister lying on the floor of the shed, with a big knife plunged between her naked breast. Breast he had fondled. His gaze moved down and he saw the light glisten on the silky hairs of her cunt. He had personally deflowered her a year earlier. Of lately she wouldn’t let him so much as see it. He looked at the still, bloody figure, that lay trussed on the floor and knew the man hadn’t killed Bess.

  “Is that piece of shit alive?” Vine asked Dan. “I hope so,” Dan answered. “I want him to take a long time dying.”

  “I think that can be arranged, but if you want to send a message to the other niggers we need to take him into town.” said Vine.

  “I agree,” said Dan. “Go get us a horse for this sack of shit. Then stay here with your Ma and get your sister ready for burying.”

  “Alright Pa,” said Terry with tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he walked away.

  They had Lijah in the small log cabin that served as the jail. It was connected to a bigger log cabin that served as the Sheriff’s office. Vine, Willis, and the others were in the office.

  “This could be just what we needed.” said Willis. “All we need now is to get this nigger hung and it won’t be hard once news gets around.”

  “You got that right.” said Vine.

  “I’m gonna go to the saloon and light the fuse.” said Willis heading for the door.

  “I’m with you Boss.” said Clem who rose to follow Willis.

  Axel got up, and said. “Let’s strike terror into all the niggers!”

  * * * * Around noon, Gantry rushed into Wilber’s place looking around desperately. He spotted Wilber and rushed over.

  “They got my boy in the lock up, Mr. Wilber. Say he killed Bess Melman. He didn’t kill her Mr. Wilber. I need your help.”

  Wilber had heard the rumors that Lijah and Bess were messing around. He shook his head because even though he knew what was going to happen, he didn’t think it would be so soon.

  “Let’s go over to the jail and see what’s going on.” said Wilber walking from behind the desk.

  As the two men stepped outside, they could hear the noise coming from Willis’s place. They hurried to the Sheriff’s office.

  Vine looked up as the door swung open and saw that it was Wilber and a big black man with a rifle.

  “What can I do for you Mayor?” Vine asked.

  “I want to know what’s going on here?” Wilber said.

  “We’ve got a nigger locked up for killing young Bessie Melman. Her father caught him in the act.” said Vine. “We’re going to give him a fair trial then hang his ass.”

  “My boy didn’t kill that girl, Mr. Vine. He was in love with her.” Gantry said.

  “Nigger, did I ask you a question or in any way indicate I wanted you to speak?” asked Vine disrespectfully.

  Gantry bristled and the rifle he carried swung in Vine’s direction.

  With uncanny speed and cat like agility, Vine had quickly launched himself from the chair and drew his pistols. His speed surprised both Wilber and Gantry.

  “Put the rifle down or you’re a dead man.” he hissed at Gentry.

  Gantry looked down the twin barrels of the 45’s and gently lay his rifle on the hard dirt floor.

  “Wilber I suggest you get the nigger’s rifle and you both leave my office.” said Vine.

  Wilber looked Vine in the eyes, then said. “You’re a dead man. I know what will happen and I’ll try my damndest to stop it, but I know I won’t be able to. You’ve been warned, I’m gonna be justice of the peace in the case. It’s going to be a fair trial.” Then he picked up Gantry’s rifle and the two men left.

  * * * * Raven and Eagle walked into the post and greeted Wilber and Gantry, who were in a heated conversation. Wilber raised his hand to silence Gantry as the two men approached.

  “Raven, we’ve got a big problem. Gantry’s boy is in the lock up for rape and murder. “ said Wilber.

  “Rape and murder,” echoed Raven puzzled.

  “Yep, rape and murder. Lijah supposedly raped and killed young Bess Melman last night, but half of the town if not the whole town knows the two were seeing each other.” Wilber replied.

  “My boy loved that girl, he wouldn’t hurt her.” said Gantry.

  “So what are we going to do about it?” asked Raven.

  “I don’t know,” answered Wilber. “But I ain’t gonna sit and just let them hang the boy.”

  “Were going out to the ranch.” said Raven. “If you need us anytime in the next few hours send word. We’re going to take some cattle to St. Augustine today and we’ll probably be gone for a couple of weeks.

  �
�I think things can hold until then.” said Wilber.

  Raven and Eagle turned and walked from the post. “Do you think it wise we deliver the cattle now considering Wilber might need us?” asked Eagle.

  “We gave our word and wise or not we’ll abide by it.” said Raven as they mounted their horses and rode off

  * * * * “I’m telling you boys, if we let this nigger go to trial with that nigger loving Mayor as Justice of the Peace he’ll walk. What would that say to the white women in this town? They wouldn’t be safe.” said Willis to the drunken crowd.

  “I say we take that nigger and string his ass up from the highest tree.” said Clem.

  “I second that motion.” said Axel.

  The men in Willis’ saloon roared their approval and soon the drunken crowd surged toward the door. One man grabbed a rope from the saddle horn of a horse and quickly fashioned a noose. The men trooped to the Sheriff’s office and a big man named Wiley Edwards called out to the Sheriff.

  “Vine, bring the nigger out so he can face justice or we’ll come in and take him!”

  Vine stepped from the office with Lester on his heels. “You men head on back to the saloon. We’re not turning our prisoner over.” said Vine.

  “Hang the nigger, hang the nigger,” the crowd chanted! They moved in mass toward Vine and Lester, who seemed to grudgingly give way to the mob. Soon the men were flooding into the Sheriff’s office.

  * * * *

  “I think there will be trouble in town.” Raven said to Lao Tzu.

  “No doubt,” Lao replied. “I knew from the start that

  it would not be easy living like the whites. They have

  destroyed this once beautiful land and it’s inhabitants, both

  human and animal.”

  “Be careful father and keep the clan close until we

  return. If you think I should leave Hawk or one of the others I

  will.” said Raven.

  “No need my son, we will be here until you return

  unless Wilber needs us.”

  Raven and his band said their good bye’s, and headed

  the cattle north. Dove was pregnant with Raven’s child and

  was due in the next month or so.