Wide Open by Bjornson Larry

Author:Bjornson, Larry [Bjornson, Larry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781101580974
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2012-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

What in the world’s got into you, J.T.?” cried Mayor McCoy on the courthouse steps.

That’s right, I thought, what in the world? Father and Mother had pulled the rug right out from under this town. With her plea for morality, Mother seemed to have many of the women behind her. Father, though, had made an enemy of almost every man in town who depended on cattle money, and that was most of them. Of course, there were a few who supported him—men like Mr. Hodge, who sold farm implements, and maybe the Red Front’s Mr. Crutchfield, who did a lot of business with settlers—but there weren’t many.

Still, even I realized that Father’s winter wheat looked pretty good, but to tell the truth, I didn’t really care about the wisdom or foolishness of Father’s vision. What I cared about was me. What were my friends going to say when they heard my parents wanted to run the Texans out of town? Lord, what was Jasper going to say?

Would I have even one friend left?

Would I again be alone, an outcast, as I had been at Uncle’s house in New York? Would I again be left standing outside, witnessing but not part of the life around me? Standing there between Mother and Father, I believed I could feel Abilene pulling away, releasing me from its embrace. I believed I could feel the loneliness I’d been so certain I would never have to endure again.

My mind spun as I tried to find a way to save myself. I’d tell Jasper and the boys that I was the same person I’d always been. I’d tell them I had nothing to do with my parents’ nutty ideas. Yes, that’s what I’d do. My friends would understand, and they would… hate me!

If I had to, I could make friends with Johnny Hodge and his bunch… the enemy. I didn’t want that… but I didn’t want to be alone either. I’d have to force myself to be friends with them. But wait—why would they want to be friends with me? They didn’t like me before; they wouldn’t like me now.

I missed Jasper already.

Father was about to answer Mayor McCoy when Joe Hardeman interrupted.

“Merritt, that was a mean piece of business you pulled in there. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I ain’t gonna stand for it.”

“I said what I think is best for the town,” Father replied calmly.

Joe Hardeman stepped up close to Father. “You did what’s best for J. T. Merritt! I don’t know how or why, but I got a feelin’ you’re gonna come out of this mess smellin’ pretty sweet. Aren’t you?”

“That’s right,” said Mayor McCoy, my father’s former friend, “I don’t like the smell of this myself.”

“I’ve said all I’m going to say,” said Father.

“Is that so?” shouted Joe Hardeman. “Well, I’ll tell you this: If you hurt me and mine, I’ll return the favor double and triple. You get my drift, Mr. High and Mighty J. T. Merritt?”

Before Father could answer, we all became aware that Hickok was standing among us.

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