Thorns in Eden and The Everlasting Mountains by Gerlach Rita

Author:Gerlach, Rita [Gerlach, Rita]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: InSpire Writer
Published: 2013-04-23T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

LaRoux was a hunted man, and enjoyed it with a morbid kind of pleasure. After murdering Tobias Johnston, he joined his band of thieves. The Indians among them had no attachments to Logan, no allegiance to Cornstalk or Blue Jacket, no loyalties to any tribe.

The day Tobias was eulogized a blanket of blue sky hung above the earth. Not a dry eye sat among the mourners in Saint John’s Church. The sun beat on the dome and the cross of the steeple, and slipped through the windows like a heavenly veil. The town had gone silent, except for Mrs. Cottonwood’s dog Caesar, a fox terrier. It ran up and down Market Street chasing squirrels and barking at anything that moved.

Old Tobias’s last request would be granted. After the service, a fife and drum preceded the crowd. A pine box sat in a wagon pulled by two of Sam Evan’s black horses. Townsfolk walked toward the giant sycamore that stood in the center of Mount Olivet Cemetery and gathered around.

Six men bore the box on their shoulders. Andrew Clarke first to the right and opposite him was Captain John Nash who walked with a slight limp without the pain showing on his face. He kept to the steady slow pace. The men strained against the weight as they lowered Tobias’s body into the ground. Then he stood back a pace and watched with angry eyes the dirt shoveled into the hapless grave. He wrestled with the idea God had called Tobias home this way. He could not accept it. Something born of darkness had done this. The sting of death twisted and turned in his heart like a knife. He felt his chest tighten. Grief demanded tears, but he fought them back.

For a moment, he glanced away and saw a man with red hair and pronounced features swat a fly away from his face. His eyes were large, round, and pale blue. A mantle of highland plaid draped over his right shoulder. The man shut his eyes, bowed his head as the priest read from the prayer book.

Nash had not seen this man before. He watched him. With the confidence of a prophet, the Scotsman came forward and stood over Tobias Johnston’s grave. Everyone’s’ eyes were upon him. He lifted his face to the sun along with a deep resonant voice.

“Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord!”

Nash felt his heart lurch. The scripture reminded him, God did not approve of this murderous act. Payment would be inevitable. The crowd stood silent a moment. Then everyone walked away.

Nash stayed behind, holding his tricorn hat between his hands and leaning up against the tree. The Scotsman stared at the red mound of earth, a single tear in the corner of one eye.

“You knew him?” he asked.

The Scot nodded. “Aye. He was a relative, a cousin on my dear mother’s side. She was English ya see. I sailed all the way from Scotland to see him. He sent me word saying I should come live with him and start a new life.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.