Forever A Hillbilly: Four - Africa

Forever A Hillbilly: Four - Africa:      The children of the missionaries, once they were too old for the school at R afiki, were driven across Nairobi each day to an In...

Four - Africa

     The children of the missionaries, once they were too old for the school at Rafiki, were driven across Nairobi each day to an International School. The UN presence in Nairobi was second only to America, and children from all countries went there.

     The far side of Nairobi was a modern, nice city. On our side, it was totally different. Like two entirely different worlds side by side.

    Barbara and I were each assigned a different table to eat at each meal, so that we eventually ate with all the children. They loved it. They soon learned to read the schedule, and we were always greeted upon walking in by, "Uncle Pat! You're eating at our table today!"

     These children ate what other Africans ate. They were being raised as Africans. Beans, peas, and  lentils most commonly, or whatever a farmer had donated, or Rafiki had raised. Ugali served as a filler. It consisted of corn flour and water, boiled. No seasoning or anything. Ugali was shaped into a cake and sliced. Maybe a Passion fruit for desert, some sort of meat maybe once a week.

     By American standards, it was just, well, bad. But everybody ate every bite that was on their plate, every time. Including us. I once saw a very interesting thing take place. Barbara was about to eat the last bite of food on her plate. It was a chunk of ugali. The children at her table were all watching her, as always. As she approached her mouth with the bite, a grimace like I have never seen on her face appeared. As she put it in her mouth, a gag was coming up as the food went down. But she kept it down, and soon brought out a smile for the children.

     We soon learned that if the table "Mama" spooned our food, she would "do us a favor" by piling it high. We also soon learned, get there early enough, and "fill" our own plate. However, Yeen Lan took into consideration our spoiled palate, and two or three days a week, she had our maid fix up a really good, more American dish, at our guest house, and had it waiting when we came from a meal. On those days, we ate two meals, back to back. But, we both lost weight. Since returning home, we have both lost weight when necessary by going back to our African roots to eat.

     One day at lunch, a child was pointing out the green peppers in our soup. He directed us, "Don't eat that. It's bad."

     Unfortunately, his "Mama" overheard him. "Young man, there is no bad food here! People are starving to death, right outside those gates, right now! You eat every bite, and thank God for it!" He did, and we did too.

     That Saturday, Yeen Lan scheduled a trip to a tea farm for us. It was owned by white Africans, whose family had been in Africa for generations, dating back to Colonial Days. When we began to see the tea fields, they were beautiful. They looked just like a perfectly manicured lawn, three feet tall, very thick, stretching over the rolling hills to the horizon. The gatherers moved through the tea, and placed a small stick on top of the tea, three or so feet long. Any leaf above the stick was picked.

     The farmhouse was beautiful, straight from "Out of Africa", acres of beautiful flowers surrounded it. Our driver waited in the car. Tea with Fiona awaited. As we had tea and refreshments, she explained all about tea and tea farming. We would normally be in a large group of tourists, but no tourists were in Kenya now, the bloodshed was too fresh. We had Fiona to ourselves.

     The entire meal was totally grown on the farm, including the cow who gave milk for the ice cream. And it was to die for. The meal was totally presided over by two manservants, who had worked there all their lives. "Out of Africa" again. They attended to every need.

     A tribesman, giving us a tour of the farm, showed us a tree about as high as a house. It was protected by tribal law, a sacred tree. When a young man was strong enough to throw a chunk over that tree, he was ready to be circumsized. My throwing arm suddenly felt very weak as I looked at it. African males are traditionally circumsized as a young boy. I saw a post by Carolyn Koepke a few days ago on facebook. Twenty of the young men were circumsized in one day. Remember, they are being raised as Africans.

      On the way back to Rafiki, our driver told us, "Because of the violence, the food crop is very reduced. Starting next month, many Africans will be starving." We didn't know what to say -

and we had just attended a fancy tea.

      Sunday, Barbara photographed each family in their Sunday best, as they went to the bus to go to church. We went with one of the "Mama's" group. We were dropped off by the bus in a middle class neighborhood, and walked the rough, rocky street with hundreds of Africans and a lot of goats. Butchered goats hung in the store windows.

     Children screamed and ran when they saw us. We were the only white faces on the street and in the church. Mothers apologized as their children screamed and ran, saying, "My children have never seen a white person before.“

     Barbara was determined to win over a particularly frightened little girl. The little girl screamed at the sight of Barbara, burying her face in her mother's shoulder. Barbara approached her, smiling, and finally the little girl accepted that without crying. Finally, Barbara was allowed to touch her hand. After awhile, Barbara was allowed to walk two fingers up her arm, softly saying, "Here's a little man, walking up your arm!" Finally, a little sweet smile appeared on her face, and she stretched her arms out to Barbara. The surrounding crowd laughed.

 When we got inside the all concrete church, (can't be burned) and they all started singing, "What a mighty God we serve," We knew we would be all right.

     A very tall, handsome young man was brought forward, and everyone was happy to see him. He had been forced to leave town when the violence started. He was from the wrong tribe, and would have died if he had stayed. Anyway, he sang a very beautiful song with six backup singers. When Africans sing about God bringing them through hard times they mean hard times. Barbara fought back tears through his whole song

CONTINUED

Forever A Hillbilly: Part Three - Africa (non fiction)

Forever A Hillbilly: Part Three - Africa (non fiction):      There were 16 junior secondary students who walked in to school every day at Rafiki. Some walked two hours through very dangerous st...

Part Three - Africa (non fiction)

     There were 16 junior secondary students who walked in to school every day at Rafiki. Some walked two hours through very dangerous streets. Their uniforms were left at Rafiki. They had been recommended by a pastor, because they had very high potential, yet too poor to even buy a uniform to go to public school. One of those students told us her brother was a shoe salesman, and he provides food for the entire family. I asked, "Does he have a store?"

      "No," she said. "He carries them, tied over his shoulder, while he sells on the street."

 I had never seen such movitated students before, except for one student I once had at Arkadelphia, Ket. She was from Bankok, and was learning a new language at the same time. We still stay in touch.

     Nairobi is located on the equator, at 5000 feet elevation. Cool nights, warm days. Every day. Almost no mosquitoes. We only took Malaria medicine because we would be going into lower areas, such as on Safari and to Tanzenia. The Rainy season was due to begin just before we would leave.

     Many of the secondary students stayed, on their own, after school, to help the kids. You could pass their classroom, almost any time, and think it was empty, it was so quiet. Open the door, and 16 students were working hard. They looked upon this as their only chance in this world to better themselves. If one talked to them about their ambitions, they would all seem to be, what probably was, impossibly high. Brain surgeon, scientist, astronaut, on and on.

     Carolyn Koepke, from the US, was the Children's Director, and being a nurse by profession, she had been elevated to Everyone's Doctor, once here. If we broke a leg, or had a major illness, we would be flown to the US. Carolyn and Doug had been here for many years. He had been a Mechanic in the US. They just walked away from it one day, and never looked back.

      Doug ran the physical plant, all the repairs, woodworking, and metal working. And he taught those things to the  boys. Their children grew up here, with a 2 week trip back to the US each year. They raised their own financing, through mailouts and visits to churches when back in the States.

     Barbara worked under Carolyn, in a number of capacities. They knew she was a photographer, but never knew how good she was until she got there. The missionaries all were thrilled, as someone said, "She's a professional, and her work looks like it!" She was quickly given the job of photographing every child, for their permanent records, and furnishing the seven permanent missionaries with photos for their fund raising speeches and mailouts.

     Doug kept the cars going, the water supply good, the electricity flowing. I worked with him, mostly. There was no hardware store to go to with a need. If it was not brought from America on Doug's yearly trip home, we made it. I spent the whole day once, cutting rubber gaskets for the water supply system from and inner tube. I also taught basketball to all the kids, and an occasional science class.

      Barbara and I both read to children after lunch each day that had been so badly damaged in their early life that they seldom, or never, talked, or smiled. When a breakthrough with one of these kids came, and Barbara had several, it was an indescribable experience, one to be treasured a lifetime.

     Barbara read daily to Moses. He could talk but rarely would although he was now six. Moses was still in some trauma over the conditions he lived in before coming to Rafiki. Soon, he would be eagerly awaiting Barbara at the reading bench, smiling with book in hand, and would nestle up close as she read.  In spite of her best efforts to get him to talk, he just wouldn't, week after week.

     One day, as Barbara walked him back to his house, he stopped, looked into her eyes, and said, "At night I pray for you." Barbara has just never gotten over that event, and cannot tell about it to this day without tears. And she often does.

     Yeen Lan Lam is the village director, nearing middle age, and very much in charge. She ran the place with a firm hand, but could be gentle when the occasion called for it. She was extremely protective of Barbara and me. She knew the many dangers of Africa, we did not. She worked very hard to make our stay perfect, complete with a trip each weekend, either free to us or at a greatly reduced price. She always provided us with a car and driver. Our four day Safari was about one third the usual cost. She had a lot of influence around Nairobi, and could always just get things done.

     Once her driver ran over a goat and killed it in Nairobi. An angry crowd gathered. The driver was crying, "They're going to kill me." Vigalante justice ruled the African streets, and this was a widow's goat.

     Yeen Lan got out of the car, and said to the crowd, "Bring the owner of the goat to me." The widow soon appeared. "What is the value of the goat?" The owner told her, and she immediately paid it. Seeing a Rafiki worker in the crowd, she asked, "John, do you want this goat?" John jumped right on that. Meat was rare. The widow shouted, "No! That's my goat." Yeen Lan explained,  "You told me the value, and I bought it from you. It then became my goat, to do with as I please." CONTINUED

Forever A Hillbilly: Africa - Part Two

Forever A Hillbilly: Africa - Part Two:      We got word that the Little Rock family had left Rafiki. Our tickets were such that we could change our destination right up to the ...

Africa - Part Two

     We got word that the Little Rock family had left Rafiki. Our tickets were such that we could change our destination right up to the last moment, if we wished.

     We started thinking that we could hop over to Tanzania, right next door. No fighting there yet. We changed our destination to Tanzania. We notified their director.

     We then realized we would still have an overnight layover in war-torn Kenya, and we would be on our own. Tanzania Rafiki was very new, and it was unclear if they would have many children yet.

     There was talk of a power sharing agreement between the two tribes, and it was still awhile before the plane flew out. Maybe things would settle down by then.

     We changed our destination back to Kenya, and prayed for peace.

     I talked to missionaries on the ground in Nairobi two days out. They told me, "If you fly into Nairobi this weekend, you will be met by a collective sigh of relief, or Gunfire. This is not a good time. Don't come." 

     The morning of the day we were to fly out, the big news of the day on TV was, a power sharing agreement has been signed in Kenya. I called the missionaries in Nairobi. "Well, in view of this, now may be a good time to come." We took this as God's sign to us .We went

     We had an overnight layover at London Heathrow, and looked for a place to lie down. Although information desks will tell you there is none, we knew that if you go into the very depths of Heathrow, there is a place with lots of long couches.

     I must have picked up some sort of bug from that couch, because the next morning I was a total zombie. It didn't worry me at all when the pilot notified us, once airborne, that we were being diverted to Uganda. Just gave no reason, other than something about needing to pick up some tires, which sounded pretty thin. We would eventually reach Nairobi, but be two hours late. I was still a zombie when we landed in Uganda, and I did not even feel like looking out. Barbara was afraid I was had picked up some strange sickness, leaving her on her own, not a good thing to be in Africa. When we, at long last, landed at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi, Barbara was excited, and I was just there.

      Rafiki headquarters in Florida had sent us a very large bag of books for us to carry through for them, along with the appropriate paperwork. We also had a huge suitcase of toys they requested us to buy and bring for the children. The customs agent told us we couldn't do that, then waited to see if the customary bribe was forthcoming, maybe in the form of a supply of toys for his grand children. Barbara just kept smiling at him, telling him "The toys are for the orphans." He gave us some more reasons why we just couldn't do that, but Barbara just kept smiling. "The toys are for the orphans." Finally, he just gave up and waved us on through.

     Our driver, hired by Rafiki, had patiently been waiting three hours now. We kept this same driver throughout our stay, and he was always competent and patient. He had a little sign that said,"Patt and Barbra". Whatever the spelling, we were overjoyed to see him, we're here, and we'll take it.

     It was a 45 minute drive to Rafiki, and the route was directly through the staging ground for the violence. The last mini missionaries picked up, right at the start of the violence, had to pass through road blocks for both sides, and the car had been shaken around pretty good. Yeen-Lan, the director, was in that car. She kept saying, "Just keep smiling. Whatever happens, just keep smiling."

     Well, the warriors, and the roadblocks were gone now, and we were happy. When we entered the gates at Rafiki, we were treated like rock stars. To the children, we were the first mini-missionaries to arive since the violence, and we must have represented the end of that horrible time for them.

     Getting out of the car at our guest house, a woman screamed, "It IS you! It IS you!"

 We saw our friend Emily running from the guest house to hug us.

     We had assumed the area we had come through near Rafiki was a slum, but no, they said. Upper middle class.

     Our rock star treatment continued for a couple of days. My strange illness slowly went away.  By then, all 80 of the children knew everything there was to know about both of us. The children just loved to stroke the long, thick hair on my forearm. "Uncle Pat is like Esau!" The children always had a neat way of asking a question."Where are you going" woud always be asked, "And you are going where?"

     The oldest of the children were now in the fourth grade. Six native Africans were the "mamas," full time care givers. Each mama had 10 or so children, and the goal was, to give continuity, each child would have the same mother until they were grown. But things didn't seem to always work out that way.  

Forever A Hillbilly: Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha - The E...

Forever A Hillbilly: Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha - The E...: Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha - The End :      With Tenny’s move to Wing, Tenny’s connections to Dover, and even to Samantha, w...

Africa

     Barbara and I went to grandson Christian's birthday party in Little Rock one day. We just happened to be talking to a lady who was telling us her family was about to leave for Nairobi, Kenya, to work at an orphanage. She casually asked, just as son Corey walked up, "Why don't you come help us?" Corey waved her off. "Listen," he said, "You don't know my parents. You don't just ask them something like that, unless you mean it."

     Barbara and I looked at each other. We both knew we were in agreement. "We'll do it," Barbara said.

     After some investigation into the Rafiki Foundation, we flew to Florida one weekend to train for our mission as Mini-missionaries. Actually, I think Rafiki just mostly wanted to get to know us. Satisfy their minds that we were suitable.

     We quickly picked out Rosemary Jensen from the crowd when we arrived at Rafiki. She looked the part of a semi-angel. She and her husband, Dr. Bob Jensen had been African missionaries for many years. She had also been the international director of Bible Study Fellowship for many years. When she retired, they wished to give her a gift, and what did she want? "I want an orphanage in Africa."

     From this start, Rafiki, which means "friend" in Swahili, the inter-tribal language in Eastern Africa, grew quickly. They now have ten villages in ten of the poorest African countries. Plans are being implemented to build ten "satellite villages" in each country. They are built and staffed by Rafiki, then turn over to different church organizations to support and run. Many different church organizations participate.

     Baptists churches are not among them. I asked Rosemary why. "Baptist churches in Africa are very loosely organized. There was no one person I could go talk to."

      Rafiki takes in orphan and deserted children, from infancy to six years, though sometimes exceptions are made on the age limit. Their goal is not to adopt out these children. They feed, clothe, shelter them. They give them a top notch education. They give them a strong Christian upbringing. If they are suitable for college, they help them achieve that. The are gradually brought back into the African society.

     They are raised as Africans throughout. Hopefully, from the midst of these strong Christian adults, strong leaders will arise to help Africa move forward.

     We were a small training group, the first since their headquarters had been moved to Florida. Small enough to meet at Rosemary and Bob's house. Surrounded by African decor throughout, we gathered around Rosemary, filling the chairs and the floor at her feet. In the lamplight, a glow seemed to eminate from this great woman.

     "I know what you're thinking," she said. "Because I've been there before. I'm not anybody special, I'm not talented, I'm not extremely smart. I just stepped up and said, here I am, Lord. Use me. That is exactly what you are doing."

     We met a lot of very great people there that weekend, most (all)  much younger than ourselves. But then, isn't that always the case? One we met was Emily, and she really stood out. A delightful young woman from Oklahoma, just graduated from college. She became our good friend.

     When we got back home, we had pretty well settled on Kenya. Not only would we know the Arkansas family already there, at least the mother, but also, Kenya seemed to be one of the most stable of the African countries. Our bonus miles would not completely pay for our tickets, but we got the missionary rate when we bought more. We started preparing for Nairobi.

     Closer to time, things began to change in Kenya. The presidential election went bad, the incumbent representing one tribe, the challenger representing another equally strong tribe. The President won, but fraud was widely suspected. Tribal fighting broke out, and many people were dying.  CONTINUED

Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha - The End

Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha - The End:      With Tenny’s move to Wing, Tenny’s connections to Dover, and even to Samantha, were mostly broken. But Samantha would just not let ...

Epilogue for Samantha - The End

     With Tenny’s move to Wing, Tenny’s connections to Dover, and even to Samantha, were mostly broken. But Samantha would just not let that connection die. Automobiles were soon becoming the latest mode of travel, and Samantha bought the first model available. She never learned to drive, but she always found a driver to take her to Wing, on a regular basis.

     John Wesley died early, at age sixty. Tenny remained a widow for many years, working hard, and running the Gillum Clan.

      At Tenny’s last birthday party in 1941, a group photo was taken. The entire family was there, right down to the last child. Except me. I would not be born for three more years. Everybody seemed to realize it was Tenny’s last party. These were the people who surrounded me, and loved me, as I grew up. Some thirty strong. Studying that picture now, I note that only four survive today. Enjoy those around you who love you. Life is short.

     As a child, I could look at that picture and name everyone there. Except for one. A very, very old woman in the back row. She has a big smile on her face, and the deepest dimples I have ever seen. All anybody had ever been able to tell me was, she was a friend of Grandma Tenny.                                                  

     All of the Gillums are buried at Rover, Arkansas. Each year, on the first Sunday in May, Decoration Day is held there. All the graves are covered in flowers, and we kids played most of the day in the grave yard. I realize now that we were encouraged to do that so that we would feel comfortable in a cemetery, and bring our own family there for Decoration Day the rest of our lives. I still do.

     When I was seven years old, I was playing around the Gillum graves on Decoration Day. I noticed the oldest woman I had ever seen was sitting by Grandma Tenny’s grave. She was crying. I came by a couple of hours later, and she was still there. Still crying. I walked up beside her. She wiped her eyes, stood up, and looked at me.

     I smiled at her. “Hidy. My name is Pat.”  She returned that smile. Even with the deep, deep wrinkles in her face, I could tell she had the deepest dimples I had ever seen. “Pat, are you Tenny’s grandson?”

     “Yes ma’am.”

      She reached up and removed a necklace from around her neck with her shaking hands. She was shaking so badly I wanted to ask her if I could help her, but that would not have been polite.

     “I have something for you, Pat. Your grandmother gave it to me the day she died. She told me to give it to a grandson.”

     She placed it in my hand. On the small chain was a golden locket. “Put this locket in a safe place when you get home, Pat. When you are twelve years old, open it. Be very careful not to lose anything. Look carefully at the contents.  Close it back tightly, and bury it deep on top of your grandmother’s grave.”

     She smiled at me again. “Now, go back to your playing, little boy. This will be my last chance to visit Tenny, and I’ve got to make the most of it….. Oh, and Pat, will you run down to the front gate and tell the three fine looking men sitting there, that they can come help me to the car at sundown? Their names are Tenn, Hunter, and Colten."

     “Yes ma’am. Be glad to.” I stuck that locket deep into my pocket and ran.

     She carefully sat back down, waved at me one last time, and started crying once more.

     Well, I did just what she said. When I open the locket, five years later, I found two locks of red hair. One of them was the prettiest red hair I had ever seen.

      At the next Decoration Day, I buried the locket deep on top of Grandma Tenny’s grave. But for the life of me, as a boy, I could never figure out what all that meant….. Or who this lady was. I never saw that lady at Decoration Day again.  The End.

                                                   **

I hope you enjoyed Dead Eye Samantha as much as I did, writing it. I first wrote Forever Cry, about Tenny's life. It was inspired by my grandmother's early life, who grew up during The Reconstruction. While it is a historical fiction book, it is a mixture of non-fiction and fiction. Tenny's early life was very colorful, so this book leans more toward being non-fiction. Samantha was a fictional character in that book, but she attracted so much attention that I decided to tell her life story, also, which you have just finished. Some names are changed. If I tell no fiction about a character, I use their real name. If I tell anything about a character that was fiction, or tell of events I suspect actually happen, but cannot be proved, I classify it as fiction.

     Forever Cry was placed on Amazon.com just last night. It will be available in 3-5 days. Or, if you would like a personalized copy, order from me at barbandpat66@suddenlink.net. The price is around $16 dollars, including shipping, either way.  Unlike Samantha, Forever Cry is an adult book. After editing, Dead Eye Samantha will be on Amazon.com this summer.

Thanks again for reading Dead Eye Samantha! I would love to hear your feedback!
     I have one other book that is currently being edited. It will be available this spring. It is a boy-dog love and adventure story, entitled The Truest Friend - The Legend of Tooter. It is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, about my best friend as I grew up in Wing.

I love to hear from my readers, and your comments are appreciated.

Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha

Forever A Hillbilly: Epilogue for Samantha: Samantha could never rid herself of the feelings that the reward money, and the share of Slim’s money that LaFayette had so adamantly s...

Epilogue for Samantha

Samantha could never rid herself of the feelings that the reward money, and the share of Slim’s money that LaFayette had so adamantly stated belonged to her and her family, was totally blood money. She was never able to feel that it was money she should use.  It remained in an unused bank account for a long time.

     Some time later, she was contacted by the Judge in Taladega, informing her that only two relatively small claims had been placed against the remaining money. The bulk of the remaining money was still under his control, in spite of his best efforts to contact others who, like Samantha, had a valid claim on this money. He discussed with Samantha the possibility of finding a worthwhile use of the remaining money.

     As he said, “This money should be put to use in a worthwhile way. If not by the rightful owners, who have never been found and it seems, never will, then it should go to some cause that could help future orphans and lost children, such as yourself, have a better life. Think on this, Samantha. You have brought yourself through all the horrors of the Dudley clan, and have built a worthwhile life for yourself and your family. Perhaps we could use it in some way that would help other lost children do the same. Who better to oversee a project such as this, than you and Jeff? I know how highly thought of you, your family, and your business are in Little Rock.  Like I said, think on this, and we can talk again later.”

     Samantha and Jeff talked about this for hours that night. Dead Eye Sam’s Restaurant was now almost totally a family operation. It was doing well. Their family was growing. They now had two fine sons, Tenn and Hunter.

     Where better for the boys to grow up, than a ranch, near Little Rock? A large ranch, large enough to take in orphans and other lost children, which Samantha and Jeff could run, while Jeff’s sisters Barbara and Cati-Beth take over the restaurant? Darlene was excited about it too, and wished to be the hostess and head cook at the Ranch.

     Jeff and Samantha discussed the name of the ranch. They discussed just simply The Ranch, but in the end, they went with Dead Eye Samantha’s Ranch. Though Samantha had long since put away her big gun, her fame with the big gun had spread far and wide. Putting her famous name on it would help it grow, and make hesitant children more excited about their new home. From time to time, Samantha would put on shooting exhibitions for the children, and teach them gun safety. All the children would be proud of their home, Dead Eye Samantha’s Ranch.

     The entire family was excited about this idea, and the Judge in Taladega was, also.

     To make a long story short, Three years later, Dead Eye Samantha’s Ranch was completed. Within a year, twenty lost children were happily enjoying their new life at the Ranch. As it grew, Dead Eye Sam’s Restaurant was sold, and Barbara and Cati-Beth were excited to become staff members at Dead Eye Samantha’s Ranch.

     Tenn and Hunter soon grew to love the stable full of gentle saddle ponies, and eventually took over the role of teaching the children to ride, which became very popular among all the children.   

    

                                                   *

     Tenny and John Wesley were busy growing a large family at Pontoon. John Wesley was a hard worker, and thought nothing of clearing their one hundred acres – with an Axe! He eventually became a traveling stock trader. He became interested in moving his large family away from the Petit Jean River Bottoms, where malaria ran rampant, killing many Arkansans. Their oldest son, Arthur, was very smart. To continue his education toward his goal of becoming a doctor, he moved to Wing, Arkansas, boarded, and went to school. The connection between Malaria and mosquitoes had not been fully understood at that time, but he was a smart young man. I believe he made that connection in his head. He informed his dad that malaria was not such a problem at Wing, in the mountains, and helped facilitate a land swap for his dad. John Wesley and Tenny moved their large family of young’ns to Wing by oxcart in 1898.

        James and Sara lived out their lives in Dover. Sara died early, at fifty years of age. James remained a widower for many years. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he married Tenny’s husband’s much younger sister, who was LaFayette’s youngest child, while she was still in her thirties. James was seventy-eight. To everyone’s even greater surprise, except for the happy couple, two children were born to that union. James died at age eighty three.

Epilogue continued, next post

Forever A Hillbilly: 55 - Samantha - The Ending

Forever A Hillbilly: 55 - Samantha - The Ending: Author's Note  The discovery of Slim's blood money was written in later, after we passed that point. The disposition of it will be...

55 - Samantha - The Ending

Author's Note  The discovery of Slim's blood money was written in later, after we passed that point. The disposition of it will be addressed in the Epilogue.
                                                                          *

      “Tenny, I’ve been so anxious to tell you. Jeff and I had a long talk. We’ve decided to name our sweet boy. His name will be Tenneson. We will call him Tenn. You have became such a wonderful red-haired sister for me. I know we will always be sweet, loving sisters as long as we live. Though we can count our actual time together only in terms of a couple of weeks, you have become so dear to me.”

     Tenny was out of her head with joy. “I feel the same way, Samantha! I feel so honored that you did this. He’s such a wonderful little boy. Does this make him my God son, or what?

     Jeff and Samantha laughed. “I think it would be very appropriate to add that title, also. What do you think, Samantha?”

     “ I could think of nobody better!” Samantha smiled and hugged Tenny.

     The days flew by. Tenn was growing like a weed. He was a very good baby. He seemed to smile all the time, much like Samantha did as an infant. As his hair began to grow, barely, they realized. They had another redhead in the family!

     Good things just continued to happen in Samantha’s life. A few days later, Jeff’s mother, Darlene, had an announcement.

“Jeff, Samantha; Cati-Beth, Barbara, and I have decided. We’re going to go back home, sell our house, and move to Little Rock. We want to be close to all of you, and to be here as Tenn grows up. He’s my only grandson, you know! And Samantha, you are a wonderful wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. We just love you! Jeff could not have done better.”

     Cati-Beth and Barbara hugged Samantha. “Don’t leave us out! We’re your sweet sisters, too. We love you!”

     Samantha wept. Who could ask for more? She was now surrounded by three loving sisters, a loving mother, son, and husband. Samantha’s world could not be more perfect!

     Jeff was now his old self. Though he missed army life, the only life he had known as an adult, He decided to make Dead Eye Sam’s a family business. He would help Samantha run the Restaurant. And, if they wanted, Cati-Beth and Barbara could join them, once they got all settled in Little Rock.

     When Samantha was alone with Tenny, she quizzed her about her future plans.

     “Well, with everything going on, I’ve been waiting for the right time to get you alone and tell you my secret. John Wesley Gillum, LaFayette’s son, has asked me to marry him. I can’t wait to get back to Dover and tell him yes! Of course, I guess I already have. We plan to buy land in Pontoon, Arkansas, and build a home there. It’s not that far from Dover.”

    “ That’s so wonderful, Tenny. I had planned to ask you to work at Dead eye Sam’s, but I guess I can’t have everything. Anyway, you will only be a couple of days away.”

     “Don’t worry, Samantha. I will be here to see you and your wonderful family on a regular basis. After all, I’ve got to watch my Godson grow up, don’t I?”

    They hugged and laughed. The future did, indeed, look bright for the Rowe family.

     Sam now would belong to history.  Samantha it will be, always, in the lives and hearts of all those who now surround her with unconditional love. No matter what. Long live Samantha!

Don’t miss the Epilogue, next post!      

Forever A Hillbilly: 54 - Dead Eye Sam

Forever A Hillbilly: 54 - Dead Eye Sam:      Samantha did no sleeping that night. About mid-morning, Jeff’s eyes fluttered. He mumbled, in a quiet whisper, “S-s-samantha…” Tired a...

54 - Dead Eye Sam

     Samantha did no sleeping that night. About mid-morning, Jeff’s eyes fluttered. He mumbled, in a quiet whisper, “S-s-samantha…” Tired as she was, Samantha was overjoyed. She had not mentioned her name to Jeff. He had remembered it!

      Caylie came in with breakfast. Jeff said nothing more, but was able to eat a light meal, and drink milk. Once he looked at her, with wonder in his eyes, and smiled for a moment.

     While Caylie sat with Jeff, Samantha made arrangements with her detective, Jackson Cox, to guard the doorway outside their room so that Samantha could get some badly needed sleep. That afternoon, she talked to Mrs. George, who understood her wishes to resign from her job so that she could be with Jeff twenty four hours a day. She paid for both beds in her room, and meals for both of them.

     Very gradually, Jeff was doing better. By the next night, he was talking more. He could not take his eyes off her face, and loved to stroke her red hair. By the next day, Samantha decided she could give Jeff the good news. “Jeff, we’re going to have a baby! You’re going to be a daddy!” Jeff broke into a smile, and they both cried. With Samantha sitting beside him eighteen hours a day, and Mr. Cox on guard as she slept, Jeff improved rapidly. Caylie and Samantha gave Jeff a bath, cleaned him up, and found clean clothes for him. It obviously made him feel better.

     After a week, Jeff was doing much better. With Samantha talking to him all day, every waking hour, his memory was greatly improving. The Doctor declared Jeff fit to travel in two or three days. Samantha made plans to take Jeff home.

     They arrived at the Little Rock train station four days later. Soon, they were both home, in Samantha’s apartment. Being in familiar surroundings, Jeff’s memory was getting better fast. Physically, he was getting around well, and he was eating heartily. Slowly, they began to venture out on short walks. Being in familiar Little Rock surroundings, he did even better. They visited Captain Barrens, who was able to help locate Jeff’s family, and they were soon in Little Rock. They found an apartment at Anthony House, and planned to stay until Jeff was completely recovered. His two loving sisters, Cati-Beth and Barbara, along with his mother, Darlene, stayed with Jeff daily, and they all got to know Samantha well. Now Samantha was able to get out more, and get the business back on track, though her employees were doing a great job.

     By the time the baby’s arrival was getting near, Jeff was almost his old self. Samantha loved her new family.

     Captain Barrens conveyed to the Army Jeff’s situation, and he was granted an early discharge with honors. Jeff seemed to be almost totally recovered, but they agreed that he should not consider looking for a job for some time.

Having his loving mother and two loving sisters around daily did wonders for Jeff, and Samantha thought she was in Heaven. Only one thing was missing. Tenny.

     With the baby due in a matter of days, Samantha was able to contact James, Tenny’s father. Tenny was living with her sister still. Arrangements were made for Tenny to be present for the baby’s arrival. As it turned out, she arrived three days before the delivery. She would stay until Samantha had regained her strength.

     The time came. The labor was long, and very hard. But Jeff had been lucky enough to hire a first-rate midwife. Janette. She made things so much easier. After the birth of a large bouncing boy, Jeff and Samantha were over-joyed. He was healthy, and beautiful. After three days, Tenny said she could take over for the midwife now, So Janette was thanked lovingly, and released.

     The first night the four were alone, Samantha sat Tenny by her bedside, and announced that Jeff and her had something special to announce.

Forever A Hillbilly: 53 - Dead Eye Sam

Forever A Hillbilly: 53 - Dead Eye Sam:      Samantha was stunned. Normally, that news would make her the most wonderfully happy woman in the world. But she had a job to do. She h...

53 - Dead Eye Sam

     Samantha was stunned. Normally, that news would make her the most wonderfully happy woman in the world. But she had a job to do. She had to find this man, verify once and for all that this was or was not Jeff. She had no time, right now, to be pregnant.

     When she found this man, it was sudden. And shocking. Samantha was coming back into the hospital late one afternoon from talking with the constable. She was completely worn out. She was heading for her room, planning to catch an hour’s  sleep, before she started walking the halls that night. Once again.

     She turned the corner close to her room, and there stood Jeff.

     Though this man looked half starved, wore ragged clothing, a beard, appeared to be very dirty and exhausted, there was no doubt. This was her husband, the love of her life.

     Their eyes met. He did not run, as Samantha had always expected he would, if and when that moment ever came. He appeared to be even more shocked than Samantha. He could not take his eyes off her red hair. Or maybe it was her dimples. Or, most likely, both. Slowly, Confusion seemed to replace the shock in his eyes. Samantha knew she could never catch him, if he ran. She did not know what to say. All she could think of, for the moment, was smile, and talk gently to him. She did not try to approach him. She just talked quietly and softly.

     “Jeff, I’ve missed you so much. I love you so. It’s time for us to go home. I know you don’t know who I am, right now, because you’ve had an injury. But I want to take you to our home, so you can rest.”

     Samantha thought she detected one, very brief, flash of recognition in his eyes, as he stared at her red hair. He slowly took a few hesitating, short steps toward her. He was almost close enough to touch her now. He slowly, very hesitatingly, reached out and touched a strand of her beautiful hair. Then he took two short steps back. A word seemed to form on his lips, but no sound came.

     “Yes, my darling, it’s me. I know you don’t know just who I am right now, because you’ve been hurt. But that’s ok, because you will soon get better. I’m your wife.” Maybe she was moving too fast. The confusion seemed to intensify in his eyes. “Come with me into our home. It’s right over here. There, you can rest. I can see you’re very tired.” Samantha took three very slow steps toward Jeff, held out her hand, and he hesitatingly placed his hand in hers. Slowly, she led him to her room. She led him to the patient’s bed, gently sat him down, pulled his worn shoes off, and lifted his feet onto the bed. She sat beside him, stroking his hair. He didn’t try to resist: he just looked at her face with wonder in his eyes. As she stroked him, she sang gently.

 “ Everything is going to be all right, my darling. I’m here, and I will always take care of you. Go to sleep, now, sweet Jeff. And rest.”

     Slowly, his eyes closed. A peacefulness seemed to wash over him; a peace he had not experienced in many, many days.

     Samantha pulled a quilt over him. He seemed to gradually relax. Soon, he was in a peaceful sleep.

     As Samantha sat beside him, stroking his hair softly, words  came gently to her lips. Words long forgotten. Words from far back into her dark past, words that could only have come from the beautiful lips of her sweet, loving, mother…

     Hush little baby don’t say a word,

Mama’s gonna get you a mocking bird,

And if that mocking bird don’t sing,

Mama’s gonna buy you a golden ring…………

Forever A Hillbilly: 52 - Samantha

Forever A Hillbilly: 52 - Samantha:      After eating a bite, Samantha retired to her room. Again, she had a lot more planning to do. Tomorrow after work, she would go to the ...

52 - Samantha

     After eating a bite, Samantha retired to her room. Again, she had a lot more planning to do. Tomorrow after work, she would go to the constable’s office and talk to him.  Maybe he could direct her to a private detective of some sort who could help. She could offer a reward, get posters printed. Contact the army. Other ideas were rolling through her head. Late that night, she again fell into a troubled sleep. Nightmares about Jeff returned.

     The next morning, Samantha felt very sick at her stomach. But she had made a deal with Mrs. George, and she must keep her word. She swept and mopped all morning. When she was finished, though she was very tired, she felt some better.

     After a quick lunch, Samantha went to the Constable’s office. She explained her situation, and Jeff’s.

    “ Miss Samantha, I have had a report of a stranger, walking the streets. Mostly during the day. Nobody seems to know anything about him. A time or two, he was spotted eating out of the waste from a restaurant. We did have a report from the army a good while back about a missing soldier from the train wreck, and they send a couple of men down to search. But they found nothing. It was a while after they left that the stranger showed up on the streets. I’ve been keeping an eye out, but I never could find him. I don’t have any idea where he sleeps. The last report I got was over a week ago. I don’t have a deputy, so the time I can spend looking for him is limited, unless he commits a crime or something.”

     “Thank you, sir. I appreciate any help you can give me. Could you possibly direct me to an investigator I could hire? Also, how about a print shop that could print posters for me, offering a reward for information? Above all else, I want to make it clear he is not dangerous, and a good man, who just got a head injury in the train wreck, and seems to have not recovered. He’s the man I just married, and I will be at the hospital during the mornings and at nights. He seems to have shown back up there once, maybe twice. Please let me know if you can help me in any way. I will be here until this man is found. Thank you again. I will check back with you regularly.”

     Samantha was directed to a retired soldier who sometimes works as a detective part time, Jackson Cox. The constable was also able to put her in contact with a print shop. Once she had all these arrangements made with the printer and the detective, she continued to spend her afternoons walking the streets, but that was getting harder and harder. She was usually sick in the mornings, and by early afternoon she was usually very tired.

     She talked to her friend Caylie, the nurse, about this. Caylie  smiled at her.

     “Samantha, you are most likely pregnant.”

Forever A Hillbilly: Dead Eye Sam - 51

Forever A Hillbilly: Dead Eye Sam - 51:      She paid one more visit to Captain Barrens, who was very helpful in directing her to the hospital in Ohio, and other details needed fo...

Dead Eye Sam - 51

     She paid one more visit to Captain Barrens, who was very helpful in directing her to the hospital in Ohio, and other details needed for her search. Then, she boarded the train.

     She arrived near Blanchard Community Hospital two days later. The wreck had occurred several miles short of the hospital, and the tracks were being repaired.  The wreck site was horrible; three cars had left the tracks and mostly burned. It was hard to imagine anybody surviving.

     She was able to obtain transportation on in to the fair-sized town surrounding it from a farmer who lived nearby.

     The hospital was in disarray. Although it was fairly large, it appeared to have been mostly that way even before all the train wreck survivors were brought in. Samantha eventually was able to find a nurse who was on duty at the time the survivors were brought in, and she had been there the night the head injury patient left. She alone seemed to know something about what that patient looked like. From her description, the size, height, and hair color matched Jeff, somewhat. Anyway, it was possible.

      Samantha waited until the nurse, Caylie, was off duty, and bought her a meal while they talked. Caylie was helpful, as much as she could be about the event that was now going on two months old. She did have one good, solid clue for Samantha.

    “Ya know, the strangest thing happened, on two different occasions after the patient walked out that night. Two weeks or so later, I saw him in the hallway, close to his original room. Different clothes, but I would swear it was him. I hollered at him, but he wouldn’t stop. He turned a corner, and when I got there he was gone. I reported that, but nothing came of it. Nobody else knew what he looked like.”

     “Then, around a week ago, I thought I saw him again. It’s possible that I only thought it was him because the clothes were similar to what he had on the first time, and he reacted the same way when I tried to talk to him. That time, his beard was longer, so I didn’t get a good look at his face. Again, he started running and disappeared when I tried to talk to him.  I’m so sorry, but that’s about all I can tell you.”

     After all of Samantha’s other inquiries at the hospital led to a dead end, Samantha simply walked the roads and sidewalks, hoping she might get lucky. No such luck.

     She was able to obtain a very small, cramped room to stay in for one night only, and a little café to eat supper.  Then, she locked herself in her small room. She needed a plan. She thought about all that was going on for hours, getting very little sleep.

     The sightings by the nurse were her only hope. It seemed to indicate the man was staying close, and he seemed to feel some sort of attachment to the hospital.  She decided to try tomorrow to get some sort of job at that hospital. Whatever, it didn’t matter. If she could be there, every day and night, he might come back. They obviously needed help there, the hospital was a mess. She could clean rooms, empty bedpans, or anything to be able to be there. Possibly if she offered to work for free in exchange for sleeping there. Then, when she was off, she could walk the town, talk to people, looking some more.

     Toward dawn, she managed to doze off into a ragged and troubled sleep, beset by nightmares of Jeff wandering about, out of his head, with nobody to help him. Except her.

     Mrs. George, the hospital administrator, was a nice enough woman who was very busy, very short on quality help obviously, but did agree to talk to Samantha late in the day.

     Using all her natural likability, Samantha told her story, and advanced her plan. Mrs. George was sympathetic. “Well, Miss Samantha, we are short on good help. I really cannot afford to hire you. But you seem like a hard worker. If you would keep all the main floors swept and mopped each day, about 6 hours, I do have a small room you could sleep in. And you can eat in our cafeteria as part of the deal. Start at 6 am tomorrow, should be able to finish by noon. But you must give all your attention to your job during those hours. Then, you can do all the lookin’ you want, when you’re off. Put your stuff in room 26, just down the hall. There’s two beds in there, but if we get crowded we will have to use the other bed for a patient.”

     “Samantha smiled. Thank you Mrs. George, I’ve been a waitress many years, and I know how to work hard. I won’t let you down.”

Forever A Hillbilly: 50 - Samantha

Forever A Hillbilly: 50 - Samantha:      Early in the morning of the second day, Samantha sat in the office of Captain Barrens.      “Samantha, I wish I had more to tell you...

50 - Samantha

     Early in the morning of the second day, Samantha sat in the office of Captain Barrens.

     “Samantha, I wish I had more to tell you, but facts are pretty sketchy. The time frame fits, but there were two trains out that day. Captain Rowe is not on the list of dead in that wreck. All but two were identified, those two were burned beyond recognition, and can’t be identified.  Many others were injured, taken to a hospital. I could find no names of those men, or what happened to them. Captain Rowe did not show up at headquarters to pick up his orders, they’re still there. We can only assume, or actually hope, that he went to the hospital with an injury of some sort, but we haven’t been able to get any information yet about what became of those men. We’re still trying. Be patient, though I know that’s hard for you. Come back tomorrow. Hopefully, I can tell you more then.”

    

     “Thank you so much, Captain Barrens. I really appreciate all your help.” Samantha smiled, and walked out. Then she cried. Her heart was broken.

     One more long night for Samantha.                                

     “Samantha, I’m afraid this will be my final report from this end. Every soldier is accounted for, except for three. The two badly burned and unidentified, and one injured soldier who went to the hospital with a head injury. They never got an identification of him, he was out of his head. No chance of finding anything out by his clothing, most of his clothes were torn off and destroyed in the wreck. Seems he just got up, dressed in clothes he found in the hospital in the middle of the night, and walked right out of that hospital. He was never found. As it stands, we can do no more from this end. I’m so sorry.”

     Sam fell apart. She could not stand up, her legs would not hold her. Captain Barrens found a couch she could lie on for a while, until she was able to go home. Only one chance in three Jeff was still alive. Most likely, the searchers had no idea what he looked like. But Samantha did. Samantha would go to that hospital, and start there. On her way home, she diverted to the train station to buy a ticket on the next train out to Ohio.

                                                  *

     Samantha’s train would be leaving late afternoon the next day. She spent the morning sewing up loose ends with the business. Fortunately, she had dependable employees to turn the business over to. No telling when she would be back. She did know she would exhaust every possibility of finding Jeff, alive or dead, before her return.

Forever A Hillbilly: 49 - Dead Eye Samantha

Forever A Hillbilly: 49 - Dead Eye Samantha:      He looked deeply into her eyes.  “Samantha, I have one more year in the military. I was told a few days ago that I would be transferre...

49 - Dead Eye Samantha

     He looked deeply into her eyes.  “Samantha, I have one more year in the military. I was told a few days ago that I would be transferred back up north in a few weeks. My work is over here. That will be my last assignment. We can stay in close contact by mail, and that year will go by fast. Then, I can come back here, and we’ll be married. I love you, Samantha. I want to have children with you, grow old with you, right here in Little Rock. He smiled, and they kissed. “How’s that for a plan, Sam?”

      She laughed. Jeff never called her Sam.

      Samantha and Jeff made the most of the two weeks they had. They were together most of the time. Samantha knew she was neglecting Dead eye Sam’s, but she didn’t care. There would be plenty of time to concentrate on business after Jeff was gone. This was their last time together for a year, and Samantha wanted to make the most of it. She knew she was falling even more deeply in love with Jeff each day.

     Jeff felt strongly that they should live together these last few days, so that they would not waste even a moment of their time remaining. Samantha could see trouble coming. Jeff knew how strongly she felt about saving herself for the man she married. She tried to approach this touchy subject in a light way.

     “OK, Bub, then marry me before you go. I’ve never remembered my last name, and I would like for you to give me a name I can hold onto while you’re gone. I will love you forever, just as you love me. What are we waiting for? We still have a few days. I want to be your wife – now!”

     “Well, uh, since we are committed to each other for the rest of our lives, I guess we do have time to do this before I leave, so….Jeff dropped down to one knee, held her hands in his. “Samantha, I love you. Will you marry me….. now?”

     Samantha threw her arms around Jeff. “You know I will, my darling!”

     So, two days later, Samantha became Mrs. Jeff Rowe. Or. Samantha Rowe. However you want to look at it. Finally, she had a last name, and Jeff would belong to her forever.

     Their last day together rolled around. Jeff’s unit would be leaving on the train tomorrow morning. All he knew was, he was headed to Ohio. He would be given his orders when he got there.

     Although their honeymoon was short, only one day and one night, it was wonderful. They were together every minute of the short time they had remaining. It was a night they would remember always. Something they could both hold onto during the long period of separation they faced. And for the rest of their lives. Samantha had never been so happy.

     “I’ll write to you the moment I get to Ohio, Samantha, and find out where I’ll be sent. I love you so much!”

                                             *

   Ten days passed, and Samantha had not heard from Jeff. Ten very long days. She knew the mail was still unreliable. But after a month, and still no word, she was worried sick. She had no way to contact him. Had something happened to him on the way?

     Samantha went to Captain Barrens, now the commander of US forces in Little Rock. Surely somebody could help her.

     “Well, Miss Samantha, The only thing I can think of is a train wreck. A train bound for Ohio ran off th’ tracks a while back, several soldiers were killed. Let me take your information here and send a wire or two, see if I can find something out. Come back in two days.”

     Now Samantha was beside herself with worry. She tried to work, but she could think of nothing else but that train – and Jeff.

     The two days seemed to drag on forever. 

Forever A Hillbilly: 48 - Dead Eye Sam

Forever A Hillbilly: 48 - Dead Eye Sam:      Tenny stayed with Samantha for over a week. Samantha was still not doing well, and Tenny being there helped. They worked together gett...

48 - Dead Eye Sam

     Tenny stayed with Samantha for over a week. Samantha was still not doing well, and Tenny being there helped. They worked together getting the restaurant up and running again, and Samantha hired a painter to change the name of it back to Dead Eye Sam’s. She also washed the black from her hair, and they were again red haired sisters. All in all, they both greatly enjoyed being together that week, and they were both determined to keep closely in touch from here on. The war just seemed to make them much closer. Now, there was no doubt in the minds of either that they would be sweet sisters for the rest of their lives. And they were. Tenny and Jeff got well acquainted, when Jeff could steal a moment or two to be with his woman.

   
When James finally arrived, he was very grateful to Samantha for protecting Tenny during this war.

     He was not so kind to Tenny. Things had not been good between James and Tenny since she moved from his house.

“Seems like all you do now days is get yourself outta one war, then run right to another one to get mixed up in.”

     “Well. Papa, I told you, again and again, I can never spend another night in your house. Kade and Sandy have a baby coming on, and they needed the room.”

     “You don’t have to worry about that no more. Kade bought a bigger house. He said you could stay with them as long as you want to.”

     James and Tenny Left Little Rock early the next morning. Tenny and Samantha hugged for a long time. Then Tenny stepped aboard and sat by James. The stage began to move. Tenny and Samantha held hands as long as they could. Both had tears in their eyes. The stage turned the corner, and was gone.

     With problems concerning the war settled, once and for all, Jeff was free to turn most of his attention to Samantha. They were together almost every day, and almost every night until late. Samantha knew she was falling deeper and deeper in love with Jeff. She was sure he felt the same way, though he didn’t express his innermost thoughts and emotions as readily as Samantha. It just seemed to be the way he was. But she knew he must love her deeply – he was there, with her, every day.
Samantha turned to Jeff one day. “Do you remember, Jeff, you mentioned one day that when the war was settled, and my problems with the Dudley’s were taken care of, we could make plans?”

     Jeff smiled and nodded.

     She put her arms around him, and smiled. “Then what’s the plan, Bub?”

Forever A Hillbilly: 47 - Samantha

Forever A Hillbilly: 47 - Samantha: Sorry for the delay. I've been doing a stint in prison - Prison Ministry with Kairos Prison Ministry. In  prisons where Kairos is presen...

47 - Samantha

Sorry for the delay. I've been doing a stint in prison - Prison Ministry with Kairos Prison Ministry. In  prisons where Kairos is present, the rate at which prisoners released  return to prison is cut in half, according to a recent survey. We work with the leaders, (good and bad) and some of them become missionaries in a very dark place.

     Sam’s big gun roared, and the pistol exploded in the man’s hand; he was rolling on the ground, screaming. As more shots were being fired, Samantha grabbed Tenny, pulling her to the floor.

     Many shots were being fired now, and continued for about five minutes. Once it was over, the casualty list did not speak well for the accuracy of either side. Only a few soldiers were wounded. The man who aimed at Jeff Rowe lost his trigger finger. An old man, watching the show from an upper window, was shot and killed. A chambermaid jumped from a window on Samantha’s floor, and was injured. Another old man, trying to get out of the way of moving soldiers, jumped through a glass door in spectacular fashion.

     At that very moment, a large number of US soldiers were moving in, and mostly controlled the situation. After consultations between Jeff Rowe and Baxter, White was ordered to load his men up and move them out to Pine Bluff. White, always spoiling for a fight, marched his men across town, singing, “We’ll hang Joe Brooks from a sour apple tree.”

     Hercules King Cannon White went on to serve six years as Mayor of Pine Bluff.

     The two sides were mostly separated, but small battles went on, mostly on the river, for some time, resulting in the death of a good many men.

     Meanwhile, things were happening in Washington. The legislature convened in emergency session, and the President issued a proclamation declaring Baxter the winner and stating the men must disband and return to their homes within ten days. The leaders met and established terms requiring the return of all arms to the State, protection for the losers, and free transportation home for the participants.

     Once things settled down and the men were returning to the fields, the repercussions of the war were evident in politics. The State Republican Party had suffered a blow they never recovered from until after 2012. In 1874, the Democrats took over. Only Joe Brooks actually gained anything. President Grant appointed him Postmaster.

     But there was more irony to come. Because the Negro Militia was called on to fight for two feuding white Republican candidates, against each other, and because The Reconstruction ended at about that time, Blacks were eliminated as a political force in Arkansas. The Jim Crow Laws were about to take over politics in Arkansas.

     Samantha was devastated. She had always sworn that her skill would never be used to hurt anyone. She had worked so hard to develop that skill to avoid having to do that. Now, she had shot off a man’s trigger finger. She could not stop crying. Tenny did all she could to console her. But she mostly cried throughout the night. Jeff came by as soon as he could. Sam never told him what she did to save his life. She just attributed her state to the fighting in general.

     The next day, things were settling down to where a telegram could be sent to James. The result of that was, James told Tenny to stay with Samantha, where she could be safe, until he could book passage on a stage, then he could come get her. The stages were all tied up right now, hauling the participants back to the fields.

Forever A Hillbilly: 46 - Dead Eye Sam

Forever A Hillbilly: 46 - Dead Eye Sam: I will be out of town until Sunday night. Next post will be then.                                             *      It was a strange an...

46 - Dead Eye Sam

I will be out of town until Sunday night. Next post will be then.

                                            *

     It was a strange and scary trip. When she boarded, heavily armed men boarded with her. As they traveled toward Little Rock, more and more armed men boarded, until the stage was filled. Tenny was the only girl/woman there.

     These men were excited. They talked of going to Little Rock to join the Baxter forces, whatever that meant. When the stage arrived at the station in Little Rock, which was on the bottom floor of Anthony house, these men joined hundreds of others, who were all around Anthony House. Waiting, guns ready.

     Tenny followed Samantha’s directions and soon found Samantha’s apartment on the second floor. An armed US soldier stood by the door.

     To say Samantha was surprised by Tenny’s arrival would be a major understatement. She hurriedly pulled Tenny in, and re-locked the doors.

     Food and other supplies, enough to last a long time, were stacked in the living room. Samantha and Tenny hugged, and they cried. And cried.

     Tenny was in a state of shock: she had just left a war in Pope County. She had no wish to be in another one. Yet, here she was. But she was with Samantha, which made her feel much better.

Little Rock was, actually, in the middle of a war. Samantha told her they were all waiting for things to erupt. Jeff had told her that it would probably come to a head that day or the next, and he still had far too few men to control this situation. He was outside, in the middle of things, watching for a large contingent of US soldiers to arrive, which were due at any time. He was hoping they would not arrive too late.

      As they got control of their emotions, Sam filled her in on the details. It was near dark, so it was looking like it would happen the next morning.

     It would be a long night. They talked for hours and hours. Early the next morning, they had a ring-side seat for the climax of the Brooks-Baxter War. Samantha had both her guns loaded and ready. She told Tenny to lie flat on the floor, not to move. Samantha said she would only fire her gun if men broke into their apartment. But as things progressed, Tenny just had to peek out the bottom of the window. She was not about to miss this show. Sam had identified the major players for Tenny, so she knew them all.

     Hercules King Cannon White proudly marched his army around Little Rock, which now numbered some two thousand men and steadily growing. He pulled them into formation in front of Anthony house. Baxter made a speech, trying his best to settle the men down. He asked them to remain calm. Then he thanked them for their support. Then, White took over. He made a very inflammatory speech, and ordered his men to march.

     US Captain Jeff Rowe was sitting on his horse on the sideline. He spurred his horse toward White, afraid he was about to  order his men to attack the State house. The band was about to kick in, and as Jeff rode toward White, he accidentally knocked two soldiers down. Harsh words were passing between Jeff and White, and a shot was fired.

     Samantha again ordered Tenny to the floor, with no success. Tenny saw one of the soldiers who Jeff knocked down getting up, pulling his pistol, and aim it at Jeff Rowe. 

Forever A Hillbilly: Dead Eye Sam - 45

Forever A Hillbilly: Dead Eye Sam - 45: Readers - As I told you when we began this blog-book journey, this is an open manuscript. Feel free to add suggestions. Well, a valid questi...

Dead Eye Sam - 45

Readers - As I told you when we began this blog-book journey, this is an open manuscript. Feel free to add suggestions. Well, a valid question has come up - What happened to all of Slim's blood money? That question will not be addressed in this blog, A little late for that. But it will be addressed before this book is published.

                                          *********************

     Tenny was now fourteen years old, going on fifteen. Major events in her life, far beyond her control, had snatched Tenny from her sweet childhood into the life of an adult. And, during these turbulent times in Arkansas, adult life could be hard. Especially in Pulaski and Pope Counties.

                                             *

Author’s note: The two major events described below are historically correct. However, my knowledge of Tenny’s involvement is skimpy. Historical records of her involvement consist of a couple of lines in a Pope County Historical Journal, a paper found in Tenny’s youngest daughter’s trunk after her death, and a single line in a family historians’ journal.

     To my knowledge, not a single word about this passed down through my family, who were not inclined to speak of such things. Especially not to us children. So, I filled in the blanks with my best guess; fiction. It may not have happened exactly this way. Some names are changed, a fictional character or two is added. But, it all happened.

      Tenny and her younger sister were asleep in their room. It was late at night. A door opened. Tenny saw a man approaching. By the time she was fully awake, he was there. She could not get away. She screamed. Her younger sister screamed. Tenny heard running footsteps in her house. Fortunately, the men of the family were soon there.

     The man ran. He was chased outside; other men joined in the chase. The man was caught. Within the hour, he was lynched down in the woods by Tenny’s  house. An over-the-body inquest was held. The findings were, he died at the hands of three men, who all readily admitted their actions. They were never tried, as the man had a history of such actions.

     Tenny vowed to never again spend another night in that house. She moved in with her older sister and her husband, where she lived, for the most part, until she married.

                                             *

     Cade Connor, her sister’s husband, soon became a major figure in the Pope County Militia war, which raged around Dover in 1872-73. Although conflicts such as these were not uncommon during the Reconstruction Period, Pope County remained under martial law for three years, longer than any other county. A state of near-war existed until the end of Reconstruction.

     Cade and several others knew that if they were caught by the militia, they would die. Cade had no plans to be caught, and he never was. But he had a weak spot; his family. He knew they might be killed.

     Cade took his wife, their infant, and Tenny up to a cave he knew of near Clarksville, and hid them out. Nobody is sure how long that lasted, but it could have been for the rest of the war, a year or more. My father only told us that Grandma Tenny lived near Clarksville for some time. He never mentioned in a cave.

     When the three were, at long last, able to come home, her sister was pregnant, and Tenny knew they needed the space she was occupying in their small house. And, she would never spend another night in her parent’s home, no matter what.

                                                *

     Tenny remembered the small package Samantha had given her long ago – in case she was ever in a tight. Well, she was in a royal tight. She packed her bag and headed for the stage depot, telling nobody. It was time to find Samantha.