The Incredible Journey of Thomas Johnson

 

Copyright© 2017 – Nicholas Hall

 

Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall... abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law."

(14^th Amendment of the United States Constitution – 1868 – section 1)

A witness to history and the first steps toward equal rights and justice for all.

 

Celeste's question concerning my middle name gave me more than just a curious insight; it caused within me a great revelation! The similarities in appearance, mannerisms, and overall personality between me and Thomas Randolph, convinced me I'd met and become acquainted with my ancestral heritage and background; those individuals, or specifically him, who provided the seed which eventually led to me – a person born in the Twentieth Century, now through whatever fate of circumstance or transformation, now lived in the Nineteenth Century!

This realization of who the Randolph's were, one of whom, either Captain Randolph (I still didn't know his first name), Thomas, or perhaps a sibling of Thomas, was my grandfather, uncle, or cousin several times removed! I now had a history! I was somebody, no longer an orphan with no knowledge of my past or nothing to indicate where my genes came from. No, now I knew and am more than satisfied, in fact, quite proud! But larger questions now existed; how in the world did I end up on the steps of the Anne Wittenmyer Home for orphans; who would've thought to take me to that particular home and why; finally, if I returned to my own time from this time and place, would I be able to trace my ancestry and discover the answers? Although I shuddered to think of it, would I find records of the birth and deaths of my current friends, and most sadly, the boy I now so dearly loved and was still, as my thoughts wandered, receiving my viscous, thick seed deep into his body as my twitching, pulsing member reacting to the contracting massage of his colon as he shook, shivered, and gasped through his own strong, delightful, but watery orgasmic pre-teen cum?

Not only had I discovered my origins, but I knew, without a doubt, I was a witness to history, as I shoved my prick as deep as I could into Benjie's love chute, clenching my ass cheeks forcing the last strong spurts firing from my swollen, sensitive, and temporarily sated shaft! Pulling Benjie closer, loving him, trying to protect him from the inevitable which I could not prevent, I kissed him telling him how much I loved him!

Benjie, his head turned back to receive my lips, responded, "No more than I love you, T.J," again surprising me by the use of my initials as a term of endearment instead of "Mr. Jeansonne" as he'd been accustomed to doing. It was a clear sign we were matched, persons in love with each other, familiar with and enjoying the various attributes, physical and emotional, of a mated couple!

"You know, T.J.," he continued hesitantly, but with increasing confidence knowing I'd not ridicule or dislike him for his comments, "you really do look a lot like Thomas Randolph. I think there are times you know a lot more than you tell us and have secrets I don't know. But you know what? I don't care!" and shoved his sweet, so nicely formed, and fitting ass back against my crotch, begging and anxious for another ride on my tubular pony, wanting to gallop to the finish line in a race which would never end!

 

The end of June, Smith received his patent for barbed wire and I encouraged Chapman to invest in the production of the product and buy substantial quantities of the wire to fence in our pastures and fields we wished to keep critters out. The deer, of course, just jumped the fence, but cattle, that was a different story! Confining our livestock made the feeding and growth of the critters easier and faster, reducing our loss.

The summer was hot, but not dry, with an abundance of rain and, coupled with the heat corn thrived in, our row crops and hay crops were doing exceptionally well, portending a bountiful harvest of conditions continued as they were.

August first was a banner day in South Caroling for our black brethren who voted for the first time in a U.S. State election. It was also very evident, Celeste was well and truly bred by young Thomas Randolph and carrying one of his offspring.

I was awakened one night by Jubal, living across the hall from us with his wife, Rachael, shouting "Somebody come quick and get Momma Celeste" and as Rachael cried in pain from the confines of their bedroom!

Benjie, Henri, David, and I jumped from our beds and raced, naked, from our room, across the hall to Jubal's room. We were closely followed by an equally naked Jefferson, large long cock swaying to and fro as he ran from his room, and Colin, also awakened by the calls for help!

Jubal was standing, equally as naked as we were, next to the bed, holding Rachael's hand, her mound of a stomach almost hiding her head. Rachael, moaning and crying, knees up in the air, feet flat on the wet bed sheets, was definitely in labor! Her water was broken, but she was having a difficult time birthing this child.

"Henri" I shouted, "you and David go get Momma Celeste, quick!"

While we waited, trying to calm Jubal and sooth Rachael's pain by encouraging her to relax and then push, I quickly reviewed in my head all I'd learned in first aid class I'd taken for an undergraduate physical education class concerning childbirth.

After what seemed forever, but really less than five minutes, Henri and David raced back into the room! "Momma Celeste is off helping another lady birth a child," Henri gasped. "But we sent Antoine to fetch her!" added a breathless David; fortunately Antoine, on night patrol, happened by wondering what all of the ruckus was about!

"Oh, man," I moaned aloud, realizing I'd have to be the mid-wife or mid-male or whatever the hell you'd call somebody who was about to deliver his first baby and had never seen it done! With all of the difficulty it seemed Rachael was having, I didn't know what the hell I was going to do. Then, I remembered something I'd read in a book, not the first aid book mind you, which purported to help in the birth of babies in situations such as this. I didn't have a clue if it worked, but I thought, what the hell, its worth try. It was confirmed by Colin, surprisingly.

"Mr. Jeansonne," he offered, noting the desperate look on my face, "I heard, while hiding out, some whores, excuse me, Rachael, I should say soiled Dowds, say if a woman was having a tough time birthing, having a man mount her would help ease the birth." He shrugged his shoulders, adding, "Don't know if that'd work; never tried it or saw it done."

"Jubal," I instructed, trying to remain calm, "climb on and fuck her!"

"What?" he almost shouted astonished at my instructions and looked from me to his wife.

"Don't you dare!" Rachael shouted back, "Your cock up my cunt has already brought me enough pain!" and moaned in labor pain again as another contraction hit her!

"Such language," I muttered half to myself, "from such a young sweet thing!"

"Jubal," I said aloud, "climb up on the bed, open your legs, and help Rachael up to lay between them, with her head resting on your lower chest, and back on your stomach. Put your arms around her and begin massaging her lower stomach, where the babe is, and it should help with what we have to do."

Turning to Jefferson, eyeing his big cock, I asked, "Are you up to the task?"

"Don't know," he responded, his eyes big, zeroed in on Rachael's spread legs and her naked body on the bed.

"Colin," I ordered, "get him ready," and Colin quickly knelt in front of Jefferson, slurped Jefferson's very familiar foreskin covered cock head into this mouth and quickly brought him to nice, big erection, ready to do the doctors task, so to speak!

I motioned Jefferson up on the bed, his big dick bouncing up and down, swaying from side to side as he scooched his way up to kneel between her legs.

"I never did this before, Mr. Jeansonne," he confessed, "to a woman I mean, only men and boys and most often with Colin!"

Colin just grinned, satisfied I assumed with the frequent rogering he received from his lover!

"Oh my god," I complained, reached forward spread the lips on the opening to Rachael's vagina, "you poke it right in here!"

Jefferson moved forward a little more until his cockhead was just touching Rachael's opening when I turned to Benjie, telling him, " Go to our room, get some towels, a piece of cord or string, and my knife."

"You ain't gonna cut me, are you, Mr. Jeansonne?" Jefferson shouted in fear. "Colin wouldn't like that very much and it would really piss me off!"

"No, dammit, it's for the baby's umbilical cord, NOW JUST FUCK HER, JEFFERSON," I shouted, my anxiety reducing my patience!

Rachael looked up a Jubal, eyed his cock warily, a pleading look on her face, "I really didn't mean it Jubal, maybe I should've let you do it instead!"

Jubal, looking at Jefferson's large, long cock, with trepidation and concern, wheezed in panic, "Mr. Jeansonne, he'll surely split my Rachael wide open!"

"Jubal," I responded with a snap, "Something a lot bigger around and longer than Jefferson's cock is going to come out of there as soon as we can coax it, so cool it! Now, Jefferson, put that cock of yours to good use!"

He did as instructed and pushed his stiffness into the now really dilated orifice in front of him and slowly began easy careful thrusting.

"She really sort of clamps down," he observed after a few minutes, "every time her stomach sort of moves, and oh SHIT!" he exclaimed, taking a deep breath, "I ain't gonna last long!" and I watched his ass clench with each shot of his thick and abundant man cream leaving his balls and traveling up his cock, the tube on the underside of his massive meat pulse, his rod sort of leaping and swelling as his ejaculate flooded the birth canal!

"I'm touching something," he wailed, frightened and pulled out, his cock dripping cum and the white liquid, now mixed with some blood, oozed out of Rachael's crack!

Following his withdrawal, the black hair on a baby's head emerged, followed quickly by the whole baby! All of a sudden everyone, except David, Colin, and Rachael, was chattering excitedly in French!

Luckily, I was close to Rachael and quickly gathered up the baby, cleaned out his mouth and wiped the blood and goo off of him, turned him over, gave him a pat on the back, and he howled, a healthy skin-turning-pink cry!

"Benjie," I instructed, "hand me the string and my knife!"

Those items were in my hands quicker than I expected because Colin, standing on one side of me handed me the string and Benjie on the other handed me the knife, so I set to work tying off the umbilical cord in two places, one close to the navel and the other about an inch away, in preparation to separating the baby boy from his mother.

"He's got a pretty big cock and set of balls for such a little guy," observed Henri. By now, Jefferson, Henri, and David, were crowded closely around Colin, Benjie, and me, watching me work and totally fascinated by the new addition to our family.

Suddenly, I heard Jubal shout, in French, "Damnation all to hell," or something similar since he was so excited, "there's another one poking its head out!"

Sure enough, another little boy, popped out just as quickly as the first, so I proceed to take care of him the same as I did his brother.

"Do you want me to peek in there and see if there are any more?" volunteered David.

"Mais non!" shouted Jubal at him, evidently fearful there just might be another one lodged somewhere upstream.

"Jubal," I instructed while wrapping the boys, separately in heavy warm towels, "continue to massage Rachael's stomach to help her pass the placenta!"

He, along with the rest of the men there, looked at me sort of funny!

"He means the afterbirth," Celeste said from behind me, hustling, almost breathless from her hurried trip, into the room.

"This one looks just like the other one," observed Jefferson. "Same big cock and balls! I hope I didn't hurt them any!"

Celeste looked at him oddly, puzzled by his comments and concerns, as she examined first one baby and then the other, placing each one on one of Rachael's breast. The little buggers didn't take long figuring out what was important and latched on to a nipple and had at it!

Looking over the assembled naked men and boys standing around, Celeste said, reverting to English, "I see you all dressed for the occasion!"

"Oui, Momma," replied Henri, answering in French. "We rushed to aid Jubal and Rachael and had little time to dress!"

"Certainement!" chimed in Benjie in support of their present state of undress.

"Well, however you're dressed, you all did just fine. It looks as if mother and sons are doing well, although I can't say the father looks too great!"

Jubal was leaning back against the headboard of the bed, eyes closed, breathing heavy, Rachael still situated between his legs, her head resting on his chest, cuddling a contented son at each breast as they nursed.

"I'm fine, Momma Celeste," he answered softly. "Just plain surprised and so happy I could cry!"

With that, tears flowing down his cheeks, he straightened up, leaned over, and kissed his wife, whispering his love to her!

"You have much to be proud of, Jubal; a fine wife and two healthy baby sons!" Celeste congratulated. "Have you thought of names yet?"

Rachael and Jubal, both almost asleep, shook their heads, no!

"There's plenty of time, however," Celeste asked, "which boy was born first?"

I quickly pointed to the boy on Rachael's right breast, commenting, "He was wrapped in the first towel Benjie held out for me and it was the one with the stripe along one end."

Celeste nodded, gently extracted the boy from his mother, the boy's mouth leaving her nipple with a soft "plop" bringing a frown to his face. Celeste quickly unwrapped him, tied a blue ribbon around his right foot, re-wrapped him, and quickly put him back to nursing.

"That'll do for now," she said, "until he gets a few days older and then I'll mark him."

"How?" asked Colin, leaving his task of cleaning Jefferson's flaccid member with a towel, wiping away of the remains of his previous experience.

"A small cut, usually on the hand or leg, which, when healed over, leaves a small scar. Old-fashioned, I know, but the first born in other societies would inherit first, which won't apply here, but I think these boys are identical twins so it might come in handy I think."

"I wonder if it's really necessary," remarked Chapman, standing in the bedroom door, dressed in his robe, surprising us all.

I started to apologize for waking him with all of our noise, but he just shushed me as he strolled over to the bed. "I want to take a good look at our new grandbabies," and touched one and then the other with his fingers, saying something softly in French to each one. Chapman then kissed Rachael and Jubal on the foreheads.

"Merci, beaucoup, Monsieur Chapman," responded a grateful Jubal, evidently overhearing what Chapman said to the babies.

"Now it's my turn to see my new grandsons," piped up a grinning Hannibal, dressed only in his pants, held up by his suspenders looped over his shoulders, walked over to the bed, touched each child, and speaking to Jubal, said, "Son, you and Rachael done good; they's fine grandbabies and I'm prideful!"

"Merci, beaucoup, Poppa!" responded Jubal.

Later in the morning, when the household and the settlement awakened to the news, Gervais and Parnell wouldn't come to breakfast until James and Caleb took them to see their "new cousins." Of course, Steven and Edward persuaded Malik to bring them up to the big house after breakfast to check on their "new cousins" as well.

It was pleasing to me observing, black or white, made no difference to the young ones; they were all cousins as far as they were concerned! If only, I thought, it was the same back in my time and outside of our little settlement.

The next Sunday, Reverend Miller baptized the boys; Francois Maslin Doucet (Maslin-little Thomas) and Pierre Lado Doucet (Lado-second born son).

Several days later, once the excitement settled down, Jubal approached me with a shocking announcement!

"I'm not going back to school in September," he said, firmly but sadly.

"Why is that?"

"I just don't want to be that far from Rachael and the boys!"

I really couldn't blame him; the twins were well behaved, slept when they were supposed to, ate when hungry, and were absolutely lavished with love and care by their parents and by all of their extended family. Jefferson and Colin took a special interest in the boys, after acting as their godfathers when they were baptized, and quickly took over parental duties at any opportunity, including bathing, changing diapers, or getting up at night to walk the hall with a fussy baby!

What do you say to a young man, a new father who loves his wife and newborns with such an intensity he's willing to forego his own education and future to be with them and provide for their welfare the best he can? Would reassuring him there were plenty of willing help here at home to care for his family while he's gone for three and four months at a time appease him? Not, hardly, I thought! He was a husband and a father and wanted to act like one!

I thought a moment, an idea drifting about in my head, before responding.

"What if there is an alternative, a school closer to home where you could be home more often and not necessarily in a preparatory academy?"

My suggestion appealed to Jubal and when we discussed it with Chapman and James, since he was more familiar with the institution than I was, Jubal began the fall term at the college in Iowa City. A letter from Chapman to a friend on the administrative staff and a generous financial gift to the college and assuring those in charge, Jubal had his own housing (James and I purchased a small two bedroom home for him not far from the campus), assured Jubal's acceptance. It meant Rachael and the boys could visit long term as well. The train ride from Iowa City to either Keokuk or Fort Madison was not long and it was a good decision all the way around.

Congress created the first all-black university, Howard University, in Washington, D.C. in September providing for blacks to attend a university where they may have been refused admittance, for whatever reason elsewhere, and we were well underway in preparation for another winter at Chapman's Corner. Colin felt, the way his bees were storing honey, it could be a long, cold winter, so as he harvested less honey than he usually could have, allowing the bees to carry over more, we stored more coal, food and other necessities in preparation as well.

It was just as well, since 1868 arrived, carried on a fierce snow storm and strong winds. Fortunately, Rachael and the boys were already back in Iowa City, fresh from Christmas at home, and remained there for several weeks. We had the very devil of the time caring for our livestock, keeping roads passable, and homes warm, but we managed!

Sleeping butt to crotch not only kept us warm but made for convenient and available fucking as well! Benjie was still growing, voice starting to change (as was Henri's), and some of my favorite parts of him (I must confess, I found all of him as favorite and flavorful) such as his penis, was lengthening and growing in girth, his balls were increasing in size as well as hanging lower in a smooth sack, and now, instead of resting his head on my chest when he slept in his favorite position, it now rested on my shoulder. His cock and balls, however, remained in contact with mine, keeping us both at the ready! That was fine with me; there's something as deliciously delightful as having his naked, warm, almost hairless body, adorned only with a light moustache, sprigs of hair under his arms, and a light, black-haired pubic bush adorning his cock, resting on my equally naked frame!

In the midst of all of this, President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives, the University of Illinois opened, and March 20^th the James Gang robbed a bank in Russellville, Kentucky. The winter was miserable, I thought, although reassured by Hannibal they'd experienced worse in the past, and April couldn't come soon enough for me, even though I had trepidations wondering if I'd be shuttled off to another time.

As April first drew closer and my trepidation increased, so did Celeste's discomfort from carrying the baby; a baby she felt should be born anytime.

"Could be I miscalculated," she complained, "or this baby's just is one of those who wants to spend a little more time in the womb, for whatever reason." She paused and with a remembering almost longing smile, "Just like its father, tucked in deep and hard!"

April 1, 1968 arrived and nothing catastrophic happened to me! Benjie noticed my anxiety and said nothing, other than comment on my restlessness during the night. After the boys left for school, I wandered down to the Doucet kitchen to have a cup of coffee with Celeste as I often did. Entering, I noticed Celeste and the others were just cleaning up, meaning the field hands and everyone else had been fed and were off to work. I poured myself a cup of coffee and was about to sit down when Celeste suddenly said,

"Don't get too comfortable Mr. Jeansonne," and sort of winced as if experiencing a sharp pain and held her hands to her stomach. "This baby wants to be born right now! Get me to my sick room and up on the exam table."

To the others, she ordered hot water, towels, and for someone to get Mrs. Andrews at the school or Malik's Janet at the store so one or the other could come up to help. Things started to move fast! Jefferson just finished escorting the children to school and, before making his morning rounds, came in for a cup of coffee.

"Jefferson," I shouted, "Celeste is going to have her baby and I need you to...!"

Before I could finish, he shouted back, "Mr. Jeansonne, I'm not going to do that again, nope!"

"Don't be ridiculous," I snorted back, "just go down and get Janet or Mrs. Andrews."

"That I can do," he replied, much relieved, I think fearful he was going to have to fuck his step-mother (it didn't seem to bother Reuben any, however.)

Assistance didn't arrive soon enough so I found myself attending to the birth of another baby in Chapman's Corner. She arrived without any problems, popping out of the womb and down the birth canal to emerge as quick as a cannon ball delivered to front lines during the war! Holding her as she wiggled free, cleaning her mouth, giving her a start to breathe with gentle smack on her bottom startling her to cry, she soon stopped and cuddled up to me as I sang softly to her, before settling her at Celeste's breast. During the short time I held her, sang to her, looked at her sweet face, she and I bonded, for some unknown reason, becoming linked in some way, for eternity!

Reverend Miller baptized her Menou Celeste Randolph-Doucet and became our ward, our little darling, with more big brothers around to love and protect her than she could ever imagine. Menou was a pretty girl, dark hair, eyes twinkling like obsidian orbs reflecting the sunlight or mischievousness, skin very light, olive tan bespeaking her mixed heritage of white and black, and many of those other physical characteristics of the Randolph family blended with the fine features of her mother.

It didn't take long for Benjie to note Menou and I shared many physical traits (except between the legs which he commented liking the looks of mine better). He and Henri doted on her, never missing the opportunity to take her for little walks, bundling her up in blankets and cuddling her close to shield her from any harsh or cool breezes; bounding to the task of rocking her or holding her when she was fussy or changing her messy diaper! Oh, they loved that little girl, but of the two, Henri seemed to be the most attached; as well he should since they were half-brother and sister, sharing a common mother but different fathers – both white I should add. Someday, either Chapman or I, would have to tell the boys who they were and who their fathers were. I knew that day would come soon enough!

As Menou grew, the country continued to change as well. Our part of the State of Iowa was experiencing growth, not only in agriculture, mining, railroading, and manufacturing, but in population as well. On the national level, President Andrew Johnson avoided impeachment conviction, a black man was elected Lt. Governor of Louisiana, and Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, North and South Carolina were admitted to the Union. Wyoming Territory was formed, U.S. Secretary of State Seward announced the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, granting citizenship to ex-slaves, and John Menard of Louisiana was the first Black African-American elected to the United States Congress. Probably the most controversial action taken during 1867 was the unconditional pardon by President Johnson given to all persons involved in the Southern Rebellion!

Shortly after the New Year of 1869 arrived, I began preparing for what would be happening in September when Jay Gould and James Fisk would attempt to control the gold market and bring about "Black Friday" on September 24, 1869 where people lost fortunes. I was determined it wouldn't happen to Chapman and our little community. Not only would I have to be concerned with this particular "hiccup" in the economic condition, but I knew very well it set the stage for the "Panic of 1873."

We'd been accumulating and saving gold and greenbacks in our safes; I continued to take gold for payment and paid our bills in greenbacks or with bank drafts. When the opportunity arose, I purchased small gold "ingots" as well as converting greenback to gold or silver. Greenbacks were issued during the War with the understanding, albeit not carved in stone, the government would redeem them with gold – someday. Gould and Fisk would determine when that would be, so they thought. It'd mean discouraging the government from redeeming the greenbacks until it was to their advantage!

I tried to be as careful as I could when we did our banking or moved money to or from Chapman's Corners since the rise in robberies. The success of the James' Gang seemed to spur or motivate other just as unsavory characters to take up the thievery as well. In mid-summer, James and I, along with Jefferson and Antoine and three freight wagons and six men traveled to Keokuk to resupply the store, lumber for the cabinet/furniture shop, staples such as flour, sugar, salt, and other items for the main house, as well as metal for Hiram in the blacksmith shop. Our intention, while in Keokuk, was also to pay bills and stop at the bank to obtain a supply of greenbacks and gold to meet our payroll and stash some gold besides (hell, more than just some, as much as we could buy without causing a buzz throughout town).

James and I traveled in a light buckboard, with our mounts tethered to the back, so we could carry household staples or other orders Celeste and the others placed for us to pick up. Tucked under the seat was an iron strong box for our money. We left Chapman's in the pre-dawn and by the time we arrived in Keokuk, it took the rest of the day just to fill the wagons, pay bills, and take care of all of our non-banking business. The loaded wagons were stored in a large livery barn for the night with the drivers and their helpers, along with Jefferson and Antoine keeping watch.

James and I stayed at a local hotel for the night and in the morning, after the two banks we did business with were open, accompanied by Jefferson and Antoine, concluded our business at the banks and proceeded to the livery stables to see the wagons off. After the wagons left, we still had some more to do in town, so we left Jefferson and Antoine guarding the buckboard. Some two hours later we were underway, with the wagons far ahead of us.

We were in no hurry, James and I were both armed, Jefferson and Antoine were armed with not only their "stagecoach shotguns" (sawed-off shotguns loaded with buckshot), but each carried two revolvers as well. Our repeating rifles were in scabbards on our saddle horses. In hour or so out of town, we switched places with Jefferson and Antoine, tethered their mounts to the buckboard and we rode our horses along either side of the buckboard.

Two hours into our journey, James nudged his horse behind the buckboard and up to mine.

"Five men up ahead just ducked into that big grove of trees," he said softly looking the other way, "and two behind us about a half mile."

"Saw the bunch in the trees about five minutes ago," Jefferson giggled, "must be age catching up with you Mr. Andrews!" as he leaned over, making certain the shotguns were handy and quickly accessible!

"I got to piss!" announced Antoine as we approached the grove of trees and Jefferson stopped the horses. Now those boys didn't just climb down to piss, they stood up in the buckboard, dropped their pants and pointed their big brown hoses in the general direction of the trees, toward the earth, and let fly! They were in full view of everyone, almost announcing their vulnerability as well as displaying two magnificent pieces of man-flesh for the world and outlaws to see. The size of the cocks on those two guys couldn't be mistaken for anything else but "horse cocks" and draw the attention of anyone within sight! The two of them laughed and chattered as if they hadn't a care in the world. James and I dropped back, supposedly not to get drenched in the pissing contest the two of them were having. Once they were done, James and I eased our mounts up alongside the buckboard, one of us on either side.

Pants up, cocks tucked away after being stroked several times lasciviously, with the both of the continuing to laugh and joke, Jefferson gave the reins a snap and down the road we traveled – about one hundred yards, when a gunshot rang out, the five masked men in the grove dashed forward on their horses, stopping near the buckboard, the leader shouted, "Hands up and no bullshit stuff!"

James and I immediately raised our hands over our heads, as did Jefferson and Antoine.

The leader, face covered with a bandana as were the other four, demanded the money we carried. I acted as if I misunderstood what he wanted so he made it very clear.

"I want the strong box in that buckboard!" and waving at Jefferson and Antoine, ordered, "One of you big-cocked niggras reach around and toss it out or I'll nip your nuts off with my knife!"

"Lawdy, lawdy," howled Antoine, playing the role of a subservient, frightened black man when confronted with the white overseer, when the bandit shouted out his orders, "Do as da man say or dey gonna cut our balls off and hang us in a tree!" and wailed some more!

"You shut the fuck up!" the leader shouted again, frustrated with the racket Antoine was making, "you," pointing his gun at Jefferson, "dump that fuckin' box over the side!"

"Yas sir!" blabbered Jefferson, yapping like an uneducated field hand, leaned over and gave the strong box a heave over the side board of the wagon. When the box hit the ground, the lid sprung open, spilling the contents on the ground.

When the box hit the ground, the leader looked at it, dumbfounded at the sight of only rocks instead of money!

He never saw it coming; the throwing knife, a well-balanced seven inch dagger, sharpened to razor sharpness, and concealed in a leather scabbard tucked in the back of my shirt and accessible by reaching over my head, came out of its hiding place and flicked through the air, and was embedded in his throat, pinning the bandana tightly to it, securing it tighter than a hangman's noose, dropping him from his saddle, but more effective! As the knife left my hand, I shouted, "KILL THEM!" and we did! Shotgun blasts and shots from my pistol brought the four from their saddles, while James quickly dismounted, and with his repeating rifle, calmly killed the two others who had ridden within a hundred yards behind us, undoubtedly to prevent our escape. They didn't have a chance to get a shot off!

The leader was still struggling with life as Antoine walked up to him, looked down, smiled, and said "Guess you're not going to cut my balls off after all, since you'll be dead," and shot him again to make certain. "You know, Mr. Jeansonne," he said looking up at me, "I really hate that word!"

I looked over the carnage, dismounted, extracted my knife, and emptied the strong box of the rest of its contents. We tied the bodies to their horses and instructed Jefferson and James to take them to the County Sheriff's office and collect any reward for them.

"Make certain you bring back the horses, the tack, and their guns," I said. "If the Sheriff should argue, tell him to take it up with me or Chapman." I knew there'd be no argument; the sheriff didn't want to start a pissing match with either one of us. After they left, Antoine and I started toward home, pleasantly assured the money had arrived home with the freight wagons!

I didn't expect to have any more problems in the future when the word got around what happened, especially when people saw Jefferson and James parade the horses laden with dead bodies through the streets to the county jail. One look at the bodies, pretty well torn up in places by the buckshot at close range, could discourage anyone from messing with the Chapman crew.

 

History books, if I recalled correctly and there was no reason to believe I didn't, indicated between the time Grant took office as President and September 24, 1869, the premium on gold increased by almost thirty percent. The price had been increasing slowly all summer and I'd been buying at the lower prices. To halt the rising price of gold, Grant would release government gold to be sold on the market on or shortly after September 24. On September 22, James and Antoine traveled to Fort Madison while Jefferson and I traveled to Keokuk with the sole intention of selling a good share of the small gold ingots we had accumulated as well as about a third of our gold coins. The prices were high and we did well, accepting greenbacks for the sale to very ready and willing buyers. A few days later, the premium on gold collapsed and many people were ruined financially; not Chapman Enterprises however!

To be continued.

***

Thank you for reading "The Incredible Journey of Thomas Johnson" – Chapter Twenty-nine.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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