Illusions of the
Past
The
name Harvest Hills might for some bring to mind
rolling hills and fruit orchards or some such similar pleasant sight, but in
reality, the town of
Buck
and Ezra had finished their job and had stopped at the saloon for a drink
before heading out. It was a hot day and
both were thirsty. While there, they couldn’t help but over hear a man
proclaiming loudly that it wasn’t right for a black woman to own a shop.
Buck
and Ezra immediately knew who the man was speaking of since Judge Travis had
kept them informed about the towns surrounding
Buck
could tell that Ezra was getting angry quickly, but he told him to try to
ignore the man. Buck saw Ezra swallow a
sharp comment he wanted to make, but Buck turned away and went back to his
drink. But when he heard the man quite
confidently declare that the only place for a colored woman was on her back, he
started to turn and set the man straight.
Before he could move he heard the man croak and turned to see that Ezra
had the man by the throat was dealing with him quite well
“I
take great offence at those remarks,” Ezra growled at the red faced cowboy in
his grip who was struggling for breath.
Shaking the man hard, he continued.
“If I ever hear anything of a similar vile nature from you again, I will
quite happily beat you within an inch of you life.” Ezra then leaned closer and whispered
something that Buck couldn’t hear, but whatever it was caused the odious man to
go limp in Ezra grasp and his eyes to grow to the size of saucer plates.
Ezra
then flung the man away to land on his ass on the wooden floor. Ezra looked at the man with cold eyes full of
disgust, anger, and, to Buck’s surprise, hatred. Buck had never seen Ezra so enraged. Buck took a step back when Ezra turned to
glare at everyone else in the saloon that had been sitting listening to the
man. After a few moments of
uncomfortable silence, Ezra raised his eyes and caught Buck’s gaze. Nodding to Buck, he then turned and strode
swiftly from the saloon.
Buck
quickly finished his drink and got to the livery just in time to see Ezra
gallop out of the town as if all the demons of hell were on his tail. Buck hurriedly saddled his horse and rode out
after him. He found Ezra waiting for him
about a mile outside of town. When Buck
came up beside him and they started out for
“What
the hell was that all about?” Buck asked
after they were a mile or so farther down the road.
Ezra
remained silent for a couple of minutes before saying, “I once knew of similar
circumstances where no one stood up for the woman in question. The situation was not resolved in so
agreeable a manner.” Ezra’s voice was
very stiff, as if he had to force himself to say the words.
“What
happened?” Buck pressed, hoping Ezra
would confide in him exactly what was bothering him so badly.
Again
Ezra was silent, and Buck was about to ask again when he finally said, so
quietly that Buck almost missed it. “She
and almost her entire family were murdered two days later by the same men.”
Buck
pulled back on his reins in shock. Ezra
let his horse take a few steps farther before stopping and looking back at
Buck, his face the bland, blank mask that Buck had come to know meant that Ezra
considered the subject closed and would not be revealing anything more. Understanding that some things are better
left as they are, Buck simply maneuvered his horse up beside Ezra and they
started off for
