Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:54:30 -0800 (PST) From: Daniel Running-water Subject: Captured Heart / Chapter 8 / Interracial and Incest Captured Heart By Daniel Running Water Chapter Eight Previously in chapter seven: Lying contentedly in Shane's arms after they had just finished making love, James snuggled close to Shane, happy that his worries about taxes were over. "I can't wait to see the look on that man's face when I hand him his damn money," James said looking up into the eyes of his husband. "I have to say sweetheart, you really impressed me today. I could not get over how you manipulated those men into giving you just what you wanted for the crop." "I knew I had them babe, after all, they said it themselves that most of the crops were destroyed by the war. Well if you know your economics, which means the demand is higher than the supply, which drives up the cost." "Where on earth did you ever learn that?" "That was the only thing that my father ever did good for me, he taught me to be a savvy businessman like him. Now how about I teach you about loving," James said and then captured Shane's mouth with his. "Fire! Fire!" Billy screamed out, running upstairs toward James and Shane's bedroom. "James, the tobacco barns are on fire," he screamed from outside the closed bedroom door. James and Shane bolted from the bed, dressed and were heading down the stairs within minutes of Billy's shouting. When they got outside, their horses were waiting. As they grew closer to the barns, flames were shooting thirty feet into the air. "Oh Shane, there goes our future," James said crying in Shane's arms. Now chapter eight: Shane held James tightly to him, as they stood there watching their future go up in flames. James sobbed hard against Shane's chest, wondering where they would now get the money for the taxes. "You are my future James, not this...this crop of tobacco," Shane whispered as he held James to him, sharing the pain that James was feeling. "It was Edwards, I just know that he had something to do with this," James shouted as he stepped away from Shane. "He is going to pay for this," James ran for his horse, mounted it and rode off into the night. "Billy, just make sure that the fire does not leap to the house," Shane ordered and then ran quickly to his horse to follow James. Shane finally caught up with James just as he was about to enter the saloon, which was frequented by the men that came to buy at the auction, hoping to find Edwards there. "James, don't do this, let the law handle it," Shane said, grabbing James' arm and pulling him aside, trying to reason with him. "He's going to pay for this Shane, now let me go," James said pulling his arm abruptly away and stepping into the saloon. The sounds of laughter and the jingling of glasses and bottles filled the air as James' eyes darted around the room until he found the one he was looking for. In the back corner of the saloon, sitting with his two friends, Edwards leaned forward, talking amongst the men. "I can just imagine the horror of seeing his tax money going up in smoke on that rebel's face when he saw his tobacco barns on fire," Edwards said amusingly to his cohorts, laughing and not knowing that James and Shane were within hearing distance of him. "Then turn around you Yankee scum," James ordered, his revolver drawn and aimed directly at Edwards. Edwards threw his chair back in shock and turned quickly to face James, the gun's barrel inches from his stomach. "What the hell are you doing here, I would think that you'd be back home fighting your fire," he chuckled as he looked over his shoulder at his friends and then down at the gun that was aimed at him. "I'm taking you to the sheriff and then watch your ass as it dangles from the end of a rope," James said, not noticing that one of Edwards, friend's hands was slowly moving toward his gun. "You have no proof that I had anything to do with that damn fire," Edwards smugly said, his mouth forming a grin of defiance. "My hearing your admission is enough to see you hang," James said stepping closer to Edwards. "It's just an arrogant rebel's word against a federally appointed official, and just who do you think the law will believe? Why you'll look like a man that is desperate to save his plantation and would accuse anyone to do it." Ted Tanner, Edwards's muscle man, slowly inched his hand toward his revolver that hung at his side, not knowing that Shane was behind him. "If you care to see the sun rise tomorrow mister, I would move that hand away from the gun," Shane said, coming up behind the man, causing Ted to raise his hands into the air. "What is going on here," Sheriff Williams asked as he stepped over to what was happening in the corner of the saloon. "Thornton, why are you aiming that gun against Edwards," he asked, pulling his own revolver from his holster. "This here damn rebel is accusing me of setting his tobacco barns on fire, Don," Edwards said, inching closer to the sheriff. "Is this true James?" he asked, looking directly at him. "He knew that the sale of my crop of tobacco was my only salvation for paying the taxes on my plantation and he, along with his men, torched it," James said adamantly, keeping his eyes directly on Edwards. "Me and my men have been sitting here all evening Don, ask anyone around us," Edwards motioned with his hand around his immediate area. "Put the gun away James, we've had enough bloodshed," Don ordered. "If you can't provide more proof than just your word, I cannot arrest him." James knew that he was defeated, because without an eye witness, it was just his word against Edwards's. James and Shane turned and walked away, James knew that it would only be a matter of time before Edwards would come to seize possession of his plantation for unpaid taxes. "Don't forget Thornton, you have until the end of the month to come up with the tax money," Edwards laughed. "I am going to enjoy living in that fancy house of yours," James turned and hurried back to Edwards, crossing Edwards's face with right fist. "I'll burn it to the ground before I see the likes of you living in it," James shouted, looking down at the bloody face of Edwards, who was lying on the floor. James turned and walked away, a smile now crossing his own face. "You may be all high and mighty now rebel, but just see who has the last laugh," Edwards said and looked over at the sheriff who was chuckling to himself as he too, walked away. "James, I truly know how you feel about that damn carpetbagger, and I don't doubt for one minute that he or at least his men, had set the fires. But without actual proof son, my hands are tied," he said, resting his hand upon James' shoulder. "I know Don, but the sale of that tobacco was what I was using to pay the taxes, and now without the crop, my hopes are gone up in flames with it." "If'n I had the money son, I would surely have lent it to you, but I don't. Just don't go doing anything foolish James, I would hate to have to arrest you for harming a damn Yankee, no offense Shane," Don said nodding to Shane. "None taken Don," Shane said from his horse as he waited for James to mount his. "We'll find a way to raise the money," he added and rode away at James' side. Shane could sense the despair and pain that his man was feeling as they rode in silence back to the house. Shane knew that there was only on man that had enough money, but his ties to him had long been severed, his father. It wasn't that his father looked at him as a deserter any longer, because he had been cleared by amnesty, but Shane's father looked at him now as a man that had lost his soul to the devil. His father had disowned him when Shane told him that he had fallen in love with James. Lucas Mathews could not deal with the shame that would come from having his son falling to this abominable sin of the flesh. Lucas was more concerned about his social standing, not about his son. Although Shane was not there to verbally hear his father's hate filled words, his telegraph was more than enough to show Shane the hatred that now rested in his father's heart for him. "I'll go to my father in Washington and beg for his forgiveness James, and then borrow the money from him," Shane said once they arrived back at the house. "I'll lie to him and say that my injury left me temporarily, mentally unbalanced and now I have come to my senses." "I'll burn this place to the ground, before I allow you to shame yourself like that before your father," James said, turning to face Shane and pulling him into his embrace. "Or is that what you truly feel about us?" he asked, his eyes searching for hope that he was wrong, in Shane's eyes. "How can you even think that I am seriously feeling that way about us James, for you are my life and world," Shane said. "It's that your plantation has been in your family for generations, sweetheart," Shane reasoned. "It's nothing but sticks, stones and land Shane, but it's you that matters to me, not this...this damn plantation. Before you came into my life, all I ever knew here was pain and suffering at the hands of my father," he said as he cupped Shane's face with his hands and looking up into his soft brown eyes. "I am thinking that maybe its time that we moved on from here Shane, and start a new life together out west. We can follow Hawk, Seth and their people as they make a new life for themselves out west?" "Are you serious James, and leave everything that we worked for?" Shane asked, holding his man tightly to him and then realizing also that it was James, and not this place that he truly loved. "My life and home is wherever you are James, be it here or out west, it's you that I love, not some land and building," Shane lowered his mouth to James', kissing him tenderly. "But before we do leave, I will burn every building to ground. If he wants to live here, then he'll have to rebuild," James said looking up at the grace and beauty of the house, as the moonlight illuminated it. "I'll make sure that even our cotton fields are leveled to ashes," Shane added, as they walked up the steps hand in hand, pausing at the front door. "Now take me upstairs to bed husband, this man is in need of some serious loving," James said, kissing Shane before taking him by the hand and leading him into the house. "I love you James, never forget that, because you mean more to me than even my father." "I love you also sweetheart, now can we have less talk and get to some serious lovemaking," James whispered against Shane's mouth and then kissed him. *** Hawk sat inside his lodge, his heart aching for what his people were about to endure, once again. He had calmed down his anger and was now looking realistically as his people's chief at what he needed to do to ensure his peoples survival. For decades, his Choctaw people have had to surrender more and more of their rich Mississippi land to the white eyes and now were no different. He knew that even if he warred against the blue coats, eventually more and more blue coats would come, until he and his people were annihilated. "We have no choice but to move again," Swift Eagle reasoned, sitting with Parker and Seth around the lodge's fire in counsel. "Ay-uh my uncle, again we must put aside our pride and do as the white eyes tell us. But someday we shall be a strong people and never again yield our land and way of life to them." "Ay-uh nephew, but until then we do as we are told, it is the only way that we can survive as a people." Seth's arms were wrapped around his man's waist as he knelt behind him, he too felt the pain that his husband was feeling and it broke his heart. Seth knew that his heart belonged to Hawk and that wherever Hawk was, he'd be there with him. He too hated the atrocities that his white people have committed against the Native Americans, but like Hawk, he knew that conformance now was the only way to survive. "Will my sweet Red Sun also go with Hawk," Hawk asked as he turned and looked into Seth's eyes, pulling Seth's thoughts back to the present. "Ay-uh my husband, you know that my heart is with you and our people," Seth said, kissing Hawk warmly. "For where my husband lives, so do I," Seth assured Hawk and then kissed him. "Then I must prepare my people for traveling, we must be there before the winter's cold sets in. We do not know what awaits us in this land called Oklahoma, for we will need to prepare food and lodges before the cold of winter sets in." "Ay-uh my chief," Swift Eagle said. "Although the blue coats said that there is many deer and buffalo, we still need to hunt and lay much meat in so that our people have food to keep them until we can once again plant." "Come my uncle, let us now go and tell our people," Hawk sighed as he stood, his heart breaking for people. *** "Father says that we must move to this land called Oklahoma," Black Bear said, as he sat beside White Deer. "Ay-uh, my father too says that our chief has no choice but to do as the blue coats have ordered us to do." "If I had many warriors, I would kill all of the blue coats," Black Bear shouted as he stood, sporting his fiercest face and holding up his spear. "And you would die Black Bear, for there are more blue coats than warriors," White Deer reasoned as he stood beside his friend. They both put on their meanest look as they stood there in their loincloths and gazed out over the water of the river. Although they were still boys, their bodies were quickly developing into that of young men. Both had long, flowing black hair and eyes as dark as a moonless night. While Black Bear had many muscles starting to show, White Deer was still slender. "I see much sorrow for our people Black Bear," White Deer said as he dropped his spear and stepped into Black Bear's embrace. "Does White Deer wish to please Black Bear," he asked as his hand reached around to the soft round ass of the boy. "Ay-uh," White Deer whispered and stepped back and placed his hands into the waist of his loincloth and lowered it down to the ground. Once naked before Black Bear, White Deer dropped to his knees before Black Bear and slowly lowered his loincloth down to the ground, freeing the boy's penis, which was standing straight out in front of him. White Deer immediately lowered his mouth to Black Bear's throbbing heat and ran his tongue all around the head, before engulfing it fully with his mouth. Black Bear gasped, threw his head back and fisted his hands in White Deer's hair. He slowly began thrusting in and out of the boy's mouth, until he felt that tingle that left him shaking and would one day spew his seeds. "White Deer's mouth pleasures his future chief greatly," he gasped, his breathing ragged as he pulled White Deer to his feet and covered his mouth with his. "I pleasure my future chief because I love him," White Deer said with his hands cupping Black Bear's face. "Does Black Bear love his White Deer," he whispered and then rested his cheek against Black Bear's smooth chest. "Ay-uh...Black Bear loves much his sweet White Deer," he said, looking past him, keeping his watering eyes focused on the river. *** Black Bear and Seth rode along the forest path that would take them to James' plantation. They were not aware of the troubles that seem to plague their friends. "Hawk look, something is on fire at James' plantation," Seth shouted, pointing toward the light that illuminated the sky. "Ay-uh, Hawk sees it," he said and kicked his heals into the flanks of his stallion, spiriting away more quickly toward the plantation. When they arrived at burning barns, Billy stood quietly watching as the last of the barn collapsed, sending sparks flying into the sky. "Billy...what happened," Seth called out and quickly jumped from his horse to stand beside James' trusted employee. "Someone torched the two barns and with it, James' hopes for paying the taxes on his plantation," he informed them. "Where is James and Shane," Hawk asked, wondering why they were not there with Billy. "It was too much for James to take and Shane took him back to the house," Billy said. They spoke a bit longer with the man before they remounted and rode off toward the house. When they arrived at the house, Bessie was frantically pacing back and forth on the porch. "Did ya'll see my Billy," she asked when the two men rode up. "Ay-uh Mammy, he's watching the last of the fire burn out," Seth said as he climbed the steps and gave the large women a hug and kiss to her cheek. "Ya'll make Mammy blush," she said, averting her eyes shyly. "Where are James and Shane now," Hawk asked, himself giving her a hug and kiss. "They is upstairs talking Chief Hawk," she said, letting her eyes take in the masculinity of the handsome chief. Mammy always liked Hawk, having declared him one of the most honorable men that she had ever known. She may have been an older woman, but she did appreciate the manliness of him. Her eyes went to his skimpy loincloth and she could see his endowment as it pressed against the soft buckskin, causing her to blush. Hawk noticed her eyes and he felt a sudden heat rush up his neck and cover his cheeks. "Now it's my turn to feel the heat that your eyes cause," Hawk whispered as he leaned close to the woman. "Why Chief Hawk, I never..." she shyly said and dashed into the house. "What on earth did you say to the woman to go running off so flustered," Seth asked. "She was checking Hawk's manhood and I simply told her that she was making heat rush to my face is all," he explained, causing Seth to laugh softly. "Let's go before ya'll are raped right here on the front porch," Seth said, pulling Hawk into the house by the hand. Remembering what James had told him when he had walked in on James and Shane making love, Hawk knocked on the door and then opened it, again catching them making love. "Aaaaaaaagggghhhhhh," Shane howled as his quickened thrusts into James sent James over his edge, spewing his seed between them. "Hawk remembered and knocked before entering," Hawk said, his eyes watching Shane as he pummeled his cock deeper and harder into his partner. "I...didn't... say to...come in," James gasped out, Shane to far into his climax to stop. Seth grabbed Hawk by the arm and turned, trying to pull him from the room. Shane's thrusts had stopped and he was now standing beside the bed, looking around for his breeches. "Don't go...I'm done now," he panted as he looked around the room. "Now where did I kick those breeches off to," he asked, still looking around the room. James quickly got up, wiped the warm seed from his stomach and chest with a towel before kneeling on the floor and reaching under the bed. "They are right here where you kicked them," James said, pulling Shane's breeches out from under the bed and throwing them over to Shane. "That's twice now that you have caught us, Hawk," James scolded the chief, but Hawk's eyes were still gazing at Shane's manhood. "Twice...you never told me that you walked in on them making love," an angry Seth said, knowing how smitten his man was with Shane. "Why don't you just go over to him and let him make love to you," Seth angrily said, pushing Hawk forward and almost falling into Shane. "Ay-uh?" Hawk happily asked, looking back at Seth and smiling. Seth looked at the happiness that filled Hawk's eyes and he stomped angrily from the room. "I'll go talk to him Hawk," James said and hurried out into the hall, finding Seth standing a few doors down, crying softly. "He has been weird acting lately, James," he said wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. "Let's go in here and you can tell me all about it," James said, taking Seth by the hand and leading him into a spare bedroom. "Now what is all this about Hawk?" "Oh he loves me, but he called me Shane last night when he was making love to me," he confided, again his tears began to fall. "Has..." he started to say, but knowing how deeply James and Shane were in love, he decided not to voice it. "Has what, what were you going to ask," James said as he sat down beside Seth, wrapping his arm comfortingly around Seth. The sudden warmth of his arm against Seth's bare skin sent a sensual charge through Seth. Seth remembered how James once told him how much he loved him, and coupled with his feelings that Hawk was betraying him with Shane, Seth turned and looked deeply into James' eyes. "I don't think...that we..." but he never finished, he leaned forward and so did James, their lips met in a tender kiss. "Gah-ween James... this is not right, I was just mentally accusing Hawk of this," he said, got up and ran from the room, and found Shane and Hawk talking. Hawk turned to Seth and he noticed how flushed his face was. James suddenly came into the room, and his face was just as flushed as Seth's. "What has my man done," Hawk asked, looking from Seth to James and then back to Seth. "I kissed him... it just happened Hawk, he was letting me cry and it just happened." Hawk stood there, his mouth gaping open as the words slowly sunk into his brain. He knew that his eyes had been a betrayal of his lust when he looked at Shane before. He also knew that Seth noticed and that, along with James mentioning how he'd caught them making love before, he knew that he'd hurt Seth deeply. "Gah-ween Red Sun, Hawk is not angry with his man, for it is Hawk that should be ashamed. I let lust for another enter my heart and it caused my Red Sun much distress," Hawk softly said, taking Seth into his embrace. "I was just afraid that I was not enough man for you Hawk, and the way your eyes looked upon Shane's nakedness, it only fed my jealousy. I do love James, but not like I love you, but more as a brother that I never had," he explained. "OUCH!" James said, moving to stand beside a still naked Shane. "A brother, damn that hurts, Red Sun," James said, giving him a slight smile. "Then why did you tell Hawk to go to Shane, and you even pushed me toward him," Hawk asked. "I didn't actually mean for you to grab the man and make love, I was only being facetious," Seth whispered. "What is this word...facetious?" Hawk asked. "Never mind Hawk, what I was saying is that I may have pushed you, but I was hoping that you would have come after me instead of James." "Hawk finds Shane's body fascinating, but he's not the man for Hawk, you are Red Sun," he whispered against Seth lips, before taking them captive with his. As the four of them stood there silent, the air so thick that one could cut it with a knife, it was Seth that first spoke. "I'm sorry James, Shane, for acting so immature," he said, stepping closer to James and embracing him. "You'll never know how close you came to actually being able to make love to me," he whispered so only he could hear. "You have no idea how true those words are Seth," he whispered back and forgetting that Shane and Hawk were standing there, he kissed Seth heatedly. "HEY!" Shane yelled, watching James kissing Seth. He quickly stepped over to Hawk, pulled him into his arms and kissed him, Hawk kissed him back. Hawk was the first to push away and grabbed Seth, pulling him from James' arms. "Gah-ween, this must not happen," he said looking into the eyes of James and then Shane. "We are too good of friends to let this happen," he said. "Now go and dress, we shall wait downstairs for you," Hawk said pulling Seth out of the room. Once they were outside in the dimly lit hall, Hawk pushed Seth against the wall and feverishly pressed his mouth to Seth's. Seth wrapped his leg around Hawk's, as their mouth met and their tongues danced together. "Hawk only has eyes for Red Sun, even if Shane is good to look at, it is Red Sun that has captured this chief's heart," he whispered, and then kissed him tenderly. "I'm sorry Hawk for letting my jealousy lead me to kissing James, because it's your lips, your body that sends this man to the heavens and back each night." Seth pushed Hawk across the narrow hall and pinned him with his slender body against the opposite wall, their mouths locked together in the fire of their love. "Ay-uh my chief, it is you the lights the fire within me." Several minutes later, James and Shane stepped into the parlor; both of their faces were flushed with embarrassment. Once they were over the embarrassment of the moment, they began to speak as to why Hawk and Seth were there, and what had happened to James and Shane's barns. "This is why that we as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free, than live under the degrading influence of laws, which our voice could not be heard in their formation," Hawk said, his arm protectively surrounding Seth's waist. "We are moving to this land that your government calls Oklahoma," he told them, surprising them both that he had chose to move rather than wage war against the blue coat soldiers. "Can we come with you Hawk," James asked, dropping to his knees before and gazing into the midnight blackness of his eyes. "Ay-uh my friends," Hawk said, pulling James to his feet, giving him a warm and manly embrace. "We are all friends and I know that we would miss you," He said, pulling Seth also into their embrace. "What am I, chopped liver," Shane asked and wrapped his arms around the three as best he could. "We leave tomorrow and follow the trail of tears that preceded us many moons ago," Hawk said and noticed the shock of his words in their faces. "Ay-uh, my village is among those that chose to stay when others left," he said and went on to explain it all to them. "We shall be ready and waiting proudly for you and your people," James said. "May I ask you Hawk, could Mammy and Billy come with us? I would sorely miss them if I had to leave them behind, because Mammy has always been a mother to me, and Billy, well he was more of a father to me than my own father was." "Ay-uh my friends, please, if they are willing, bring them." James stood wrapped in Shane's arms on the front porch, watching Hawk and Seth ride away. "Did you truly come that close to making love with Seth," Shane asked, causing James to suddenly turn and look up into his eyes. "Yes Shane, it was that intense between us for a moment, but it was your face in my mind's eye that kept me faithful to you," he said and stood on his toes, placing a sweet kiss on Shane's lips. "Now husband let's go find Mammy and tell her our news," James said, taking Shane by the hand and leading him back into the house. *** Several days later, James abruptly sat up in bed when the sound of a horse and buggy disturbed the silence of the morning. Hurrying to his window, his insides filled with anger as his eyes took in the presence of that dreaded tax collector. "What's wrong," Shane asked as he sleepily rose to a sitting position. "Edwards is here," he shouted, pulling on his jeans. Rushing from the room, James hurried down the stairs and just as he got to the bottom, Bessie was opening the door. Edwards stepped boldly into the foyer, his eyes taking in the grandeur of foyer and the broad winding staircase that sat directly ahead of the door. "Ah Thornton, I do hope that I have gotten you from your sleep," he said, his voice held a sort of amusement to it and his eyes sparkled with the notice that he was about to give James. "State your business and then leave my house," James said, his eyes showing the anger and contempt that he held for this man. "This here is an eviction notice, you have until tomorrow to vacate the premises because your house, land and all that is on it has been seized for non payment of taxes," he cheerfully said. Inside himself, James shuddered when he remembered that today was the last day of the month. He knew that he could not pay the taxes and that Edwards was just dying to take possession of James' plantation. "I have until this evening at midnight to pay my taxes," he paused and drew in a deep breath. "Again, I am ordering you to leave my property or I will shoot you for trespassing," James said and then grabbed his rifle that he kept beside the door and aiming it at Edwards. "I'll leave for the moment, but it will give my heart such sweetness when I move into this grand house tomorrow morning. Must I also remind you that the furnishings are to be left behind? Everything that is on the land and in the house will be seized to cover the delinquent taxes." "I can assure you, that what you find tomorrow will have been cheerfully left you," James assured him, returning the same smirk of a smile to Edwards. "No funny business, because I can assure you that I will pursue any miscarriage of justice," he said, turned and hurried from the house. "Any miscarriage, do you hear me?" he asked, but James lifted his rifle to his shoulder and aimed, pulled the trigger and shot off a large part of the fringe that surrounded the buggy's roof. "No get or the next one will be in your head," James yelled and Edwards snapped the horse whip, causing the horse and buggy to lurch off in a frenzy. "I's don't like violence James, but that man deserves a good horse whipping, Mmmmm yes he does," Bessie said and stormed off into the house. "What is all the shooting about," Shane asked stepping onto the porch, wearing just his jeans. "I took a shot at this polecat," James said, turning and walking back into the house, pulling Shane with him. *** That evening, James and Shane stood on the porch of his house facing the small group of friends that had come to his aid. "Billy, I want you and the warriors that Hawk brought to go and torch the fields. I don't want a single piece of cotton left behind to harvest," he told Billy and Hawk spoke in his native tongue to his warriors, instructing them to do as Billy did. James turned to Bessie, and he could see the pain in her eyes as he stepped up to her, taking her hands in his. "Have you got everything that you wish to take with you on the wagon," James asked. "Yes'sa, but I'm leaving my heart behind, James," she said as her tears softly flowed down her face. "Then go and sit in the wagon Mammy," he told her, placing a soft kiss to her cheek. "Red Sun, you and Hawk torched the horse barn," he told them, knowing that they had already removed the animals earlier that day to Hawk's village. Hawk and Seth took off running for the barn and James turned to Shane, his own eyes watering. He looked into Shane's soft brown eyes and sighed, for James could see the pain that was in them for him. Shane took James into his arms and held him tight to his chest. "I just wish that I could have gotten the tax money for you. I know how much this must hurt you, sweetheart." "No Shane, as I once said, this is just sticks and stones, it's you that made it a home. With that being said my darling husband, wherever you and I end up, that is where our home shall be," James smiled and then pulled Shane's mouth down to his in a long soft kiss. "I love you more than life, James," Shane whispered and then taking him by the hand, walked inside the house, each carrying a torch. Climbing the staircase slowly, they walked from room to room, setting afire each room until they were once downstairs. Hurrying through the downstairs rooms, they torched everything. Finally reaching the porch, they tossed their torches inside the open door and ran down the steps to the wagons. Hawk and Seth were already on their horses when Billy and Hawk's warriors returned from torching the fields. "Gentlemen, I thank you for your kindness to me," James said, his eyes watering, and his voice shaking with emotion. "My friends, our work here is done," he said and then together, they rode off, not bothering to look back. *** Stepping from the saloon with some of the buyers that had stayed behind, waiting for the cotton harvest to come to market, Edwards pulled his pocket watch from his coat pocket and glanced at the time. "Its two minutes past midnight gentlemen," he gloated with a smile. "I do declare that Thornton's plantation is now mine," he said as he passed around cigars to each of the men. "I wouldn't be celebrating just yet...looky there," Mathew Hendricks said, pointing the sky where it was illuminated from the fire. "If my memory serves me right, that is coming from your plantation," he said and the cigar fell from Edwards' mouth when it gaped open, his eyes taking in the brightness of the sky. "That son of a bitch...he's done set fire to the place," he shouted and ran for his horse. Unhitching it from the rail, he mounted it and rode hurriedly down the road, which would take him to the plantation. When he arrived at the plantation, he pulled his horse about to a stop, gazing disbelievingly at the burning mansion. "Nooooooo," he screamed out, watching as the roof and upper floor collapsed, sending flames soaring into the sky. "I'll kill you for this Thornton," he shouted. "The cotton fields are burning also," one of the men that had ridden there with him said. "I guess that rebel really showed you who was what," he smirked, himself hating what Edwards had done to James. "This is hardly over, I'll get the soldiers from the fort and show that damn rebel that no one makes a fool of me," he shouted and turned his horse around, riding furiously from the plantation...alone. "I don't know about you men, but I for one am not getting sucked into his need for revenge. No sir, not me, he's gonna get himself killed and I ain't gonna be a part of it," he said and along with the other men, they rode away in the opposite direction. *** The sun was just breaking over the horizon as the Choctaw began to vacate their village, sadness permeated the air as they silently road away. Horses pulling travois' carrying the old and very young went first with only Chief Hawk and Seth riding before them. After the horses that were pulling the travois', came James and Shane with their wagon followed by Billy and Bessie with their wagon. Finally it was the warriors that rode guard that brought up the rear of the procession. In the whole scene there was an air of ruin and destruction, something which betrayed a final and irrevocable farewell; one couldn't watch without feeling one's heart wrung. The Choctaw's were tranquil, but somber and silent. "To be free, that is why we are leaving Red Sun, my people shall be free once again from prejudice and hatred," Hawk said as his tears finally found release and flowed down his face as he watched the expulsion of one of the most celebrated and ancient of American peoples. Seth knew not what to say as he saw his husband's tears flowing unchecked down his face; it broke his heart to see this vulnerability in his man. "Ay-uh my husband, again we shall as a people be free," Seth said and rested his hand briefly on Hawk's. A silent mourning passed between them when their eyes met and held. Hawk knew that his Red Sun's heart shared his pain. "Soldiers!" Shane shouted, causing Hawk to stop and turn. Coming from directly behind the procession, hundreds of Blue Coat soldiers road furiously with Edwards riding up front beside the colonel. "Kill them...,kill them all," Edwards shouted to the colonel, his hatred for James was also for any and all that aided him. "Listen Edwards, I am in command here not you," he shouted, glaring heatedly at him. As much as he was a soldier, he was a man first and foremost. Yes he had been ordered to displace the Choctaw, but inside his heart he hated it, because his grandmother had been Choctaw. Hawk quickly turned his horse and rode back toward the soldiers, ordering his people to continue moving. "My warriors... do not draw first blood," he commanded and rode past them, hoping to meet the soldiers before they overtook his people. When he was within speaking distance, Hawk pulled his horse to a halt, keeping his eyes on the colonel who held up his fisted hand, causing his soldiers to stop. "Chief Hawk," the colonel said solemnly, looking directly into Hawk's eyes. "Can't the blue coat soldier see that we are doing as ordered?" Hawk asked, motioning back at his people. James, Shane and Seth came riding up, stopping beside Hawk. "That's the one... right there colonel...that's Thornton," Edwards screamed in rage and pointing an angry finger at James. "I want him arrested," he demanded. "For what...I have done nothing illegal," James said, giving Edwards a smirk. James could see the anger and hatred that was in Edwards' eyes. Inside himself, James smiled because he knew that he was the cause of it. "Did you or did you not, torch your plantation?" the colonel asked. "What... someone torched my plantation?" James asked, feigning shock at the news. "You know damn well that you did, so don't deny it," Edwards shouted as his hand moved to his revolver. "Colonel, I left my plantation this morning as ordered," James said, directing his attention to the colonel. "If someone came and destroyed it, it must surely be the same person that torched my barn earlier in the week," he said gloating at Edwards. "I heard how someone torched your tobacco barns, James. I guess that it could have been the same person that did this." "He knows that it wasn't and he is the one that did it, colonel," Edwards accused. "How do you know it wasn't the same person," the colonel asked, turning his attention to Edwards. "I just know it wasn't that's all," he said. "Well that is not proof enough to arrest him. As far as I see it, its your word against his." "Then if there is no further need to detain us, we would like to continue on," Hawk said, stepping back into the conversation. "Chief Hawk, I truly wish that what is happening to your people could have been avoided." "Ay-uh, but we are going to a land where my people can ride free and once again hold their heads up with pride," Hawk said. "God speed to you and your people," the colonel said, shaking hands with Hawk. Hawk, along with the other turned and rode away, leaving the soldiers and Edwards behind them. "You're not just gonna let Thornton ride away, are ya?" Edwards shouted. "I have no just cause to detain or arrest him," he said, giving the signal with his hand to turn and return to the fort to his men. "Well I as sure have reason," Edwards said and pulled his gun from its holster and aimed it at James' back. Bam! Bam! To be continued... That is the end of chapter eight, I would appreciate any of your comments at danielrunningwater@yahoo.com Thank you, Daniel