The Granite Heart (An Ozark Mountain Series Book 2) by Black Alan & Knight Bernice

Author:Black, Alan & Knight, Bernice [Black, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2014-02-19T16:00:00+00:00

TUESDAY – DAWN

LillieBeth pulled the wad of cash from her pocket and held it up for the man to see. He beat her and Susanne to the door.

Susanne watched LillieBeth. The young girl was a whirlwind racing through the store. She pointed at items while the storekeeper and Button ignored the pointing rifle barrel while carrying the goods to the counter.

Susanne said, “LillieBeth, why are we getting all this here, just to haul it all the way home? I see the need for some of it, but I don’t understand.”

LillieBeth replied, “There are people in Oasis who lied about what the Braunawalls did. They saw it. They told Clayton they saw it. Then they said they did not. I will not do business in that town until I find out who lied and who did not.”

Susanne said, “But, what if they are just scared of the Braunawalls and their friends? Maybe they were threatened.”

LillieBeth nodded. “That may be or it may not be. I can dispense forgiveness when it is called for and asked for, but until then they will not profit because of me.”

Susanne nodded. The girl was right. It was one thing if the witnesses in Oasis had been threatened, it was quite another if their retraction led to the shooting and death of Clayton Grissom.

It did not take long to get back to the wagon. Susanne tossed three new blankets into the back for Clare, Art and Grace. Before they wrapped themselves to keep warm in the early morning damp, LillieBeth handed her father a heavy flannel shirt. They stacked packets and bundles of goods under the front seat LillieBeth had bought: salt, flour, coffee, bacon, beans, bullets and other staples that the mountains around them could not provide in any abundance. LillieBeth had even purchased her mother a new pot and a couple of new buckets.

Susanne said to the crowd around them, “We are looking for the county clerk. Is he here?”

A man raised his hand.

She pointed at the big, brick building. “Let’s get to it, sir. We have a long way to go and would like our business finished first.”

Susanne and LillieBeth followed the man into the building.

Susanne was glad to leave the crowd behind them. She did not mind standing in front of a classroom full of students, but a crowd of staring adults was a little unnerving.

Once inside the clerk’s office LillieBeth handed the man the deed to their new place. “I need to get this deed recorded.”

The man nodded. “Yes, Miss. That is a two dollar filing fee. Let’s see, there are four hundred and twenty acres and…here we go…ten cents per acre assessment on farm land is due on the property for forty-two dollars, so we have a total due of forty-four dollars. You have that much?” He took the money from her, stamping this, jotting notes there, putting a sticker here, and finally handing LillieBeth a pen.

He said, “Who are you? And are you authorized to sign for the new owner?”

LillieBeth said, “I am LillieBeth Hazkit.

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