THE GENTLE INFLUENCE

 

 

            Jody and Fodder-wing were having a fine time at the Christmas doin's. Fodder-wing and his brothers had picked up Jody and Penny and the carcass of old Slewfoot in the swamp, and they had all made it to Volusia in time for the celebrations. The two little boys were in a delirium of excitement, wandering first to Penny and other men weaving their spells of magic in the tales that they were telling, then to Ma Baxter and Grandma Hutto who plied them with cake and punch, and then on to where Fodder-wing's brothers were having a rowdy time of their own at the other end of the church.

            The church door opened and a stranger entered, bringing a cold blast of air in with him. Lem Forrester spoke to him, and then spoke to Buck, Mill-wheel, Arch, Pack, and Gabby. Jody and Fodder-wing approached curiously. The men eyed them tensely.

            "Who was that man?" their little brother asked.

            "Jest a stranger," Lem replied evasively.

            "What'd he say?"

            The men looked at each other, and Mill-wheel said casually, "We got to go out for awhiles, Fodder-wing. You stay here."

            "Why? I wanta go, too."

            "Not this time," Buck said carefully. "You stay with the Baxters."

            "No," he whined. "Don't leave me."

            "We ain't takin' you," Lem snapped harshly. The other men looked at him cautioningly. Lem softened his tone with effort. "We'll likely be back for you. Iffen we ain't, go home with the Baxters, and we'll fetch you from there later."

            With that, the Forresters walked out of the church.

            Jody said to Fodder-wing, "Now ain't that quare?"

            The boys wandered back to where Ma Baxter and Grandma Hutto were seated on a bench. At that moment, Penny raced over, his face dark with concern. The three adults discussed the news from the stranger, the news of the return of Oliver and Twink. Penny announced that he was going to try to ward off trouble. It was decided that Grandma's presence might shame the Forresters into behaving themselves better. Ory had no intention of being left out of anything. The boys begged to be included. Penny looked doubtful.

            Fodder-wing implored, "Please! Mebbe I kin shame 'em, too! 'Sides, they told me to stay with you-all."

            It was agreed. The five hurried off to the Hutto house. They arrived in time to witness an epic confrontation. Oliver and Twink were backed up against the house, facing the Forresters, who were ranged out in front of them. Lem was menacing Twink, who was cowering and crying and trying to stay behind Oliver. Oliver had his hands full trying to keep her behind him, while also trying to fend off more or less playful blows dealt him by Lem's brothers who alternated poking at him. It was obvious that the Forresters were very much enjoying their game of cat and mouse. But Jody had to wonder just how long it would be before the "cat" tired of its game and finished off its "mouse," as was inevitable.

            All of the participants looked up as the Baxter wagon rolled into the sandy yard. Penny and Jody leaped down and helped Fodder-wing and the women to disembark.

            Lem turned a savage face to Penny. "You interferin' agin? And what you mean bringin' him here?"

            Buck spoke more gently, "Fodder-wing. We told you to stay there."

            "You told me to stay with the Baxters. I done so."

            Mill-wheel sighed. "Now you know this ain't what we meant."

            "You gave me two orders. I couldn't obey one without disobeyin' th'other."

            Lem stuck a finger in his face. "Wait'll we git you home."

            "You're blamin' the wrong one," Arch suggested.

            "Yeah," Lem agreed. He turned back to Penny. "Now iffen you and your young un want hell beat outen you agin, fine. We'll be proud to oblige. But I suggest you put Miss Ory and Mis' Hutto back on that wagon and tell 'em to git outen here. And they best take Fodder-wing with 'em."

            Oliver spoke for the first time. "Whilst you're lettin' women go, I kin suggest one more."

            Lem laughed harshly. "Now that's right funny, Oliver."

            Grandma declared, "I ain't leavin' my son, no matter what."

            "Nor I mine," Ory agreed.

            "And I ain't goin' neither," Fodder-wing stated flatly. "Whatever you gonna do to them, you'll hafta do in front o' me."

            The Forrester men shifted uncomfortably.

            "That's the real reason you-all left me, ain't it? Not wantin' me to see how mean you-all kin be. Why? You 'shamed?"

            They bristled.

            "You're too young," Buck stated flatly.

            "Well, then mebbe I'll grow up a mite tonight."

            Mill-wheel tried a new tactic. "Jody, git outen here whilst you kin. You know what'll happen to you iffen you git involved. And take Fodder-wing with you."

            "No. Iffen you-all got to beat me agin, then that's how it be. And Fodder-wing kin watch that, too."

            Lem lost all patience. He strode aggressively to Penny. "Git our boy outen here. You had no right to bring him."

            Penny stood his ground. "He had a right to come. I ain't dragged him."

            Lem turned back to his adult brothers. "One o' you-all take him home."

            "No," Fodder-wing insisted. "What're you-all gonna do, Lem, you don't want I should see?"

            "I kin tell you," Oliver offered.

            "Shut up!" Lem snapped at the sailor.

            Fodder-wing pointed out, "Even iffen one o' you-all drags me home by force, I'll still hear later what happened, and I'll know who done it."

            Buck regarded Lem hopelessly, and said in a low voice, "We cain't kill Oliver in front o' Fodder-wing; we jest cain't."

            "Buck...!"

            "Lem," Mill-wheel emphasized. "We cain't."

            Lem turned away in defeat.

            Fodder-wing smiled at Jody and winked.