VENGEANCE DELAYED

 

 

            "We need to talk to you," Buck told Penny solemnly, as he and Mill-wheel approached.

            Penny nodded, but eyed them uncertainly. The two families had been actively avoiding each other since the burning of the Hutto house, but Penny still hadn't expected the two Forresters that he most considered his friends to be so thoroughly grim toward him. The most that he'd anticipated prior to this moment was awkwardness.

            "In the barn," Mill-wheel directed, alarming Penny further.

            This time, he did not even nod, but just stood staring.

            "So's Miss Ory cain't hear," Mill-wheel clarified.

            Penny was bewildered. "What is it you don't want Ory should hear?"

            "In the barn," Buck repeated more firmly, making it clear that Penny would get no more answers until he complied.

            Silently reminding himself that he trusted these two, Penny obeyed. Partway there, Jody fell into step with them.

            "No," Buck refused him. "Jody, you stay out here. This is jest between us and your pa."

            Disappointed, the boy stopped following.

            Penny was surprised at the level of jitters that he'd developed by the time that they'd reached the barn. He had the distinct, irrational impression that the pair wanted him alone for some diabolical, possibly violent, purpose.

            Once the three were inside, Mill-wheel shut the barn door with finality. Penny's eyes begged Buck for answers.

            "Set down," Buck said simply.

            Penny sat, thinking, despite his faith in them, that at least they hadn't knocked him down; they'd allowed him to lower himself on his own.

            The two Forresters sat down in the straw as well. Buck stated bluntly, "I reckon you know we set the fire."

            Penny nodded uncomfortably.

            "You did see Oliver that night, didn't you?"

            "Yes."

            "We want you to tell us ever'thin' that happened, to your family and to the Huttos, after we left Volusia."

            Penny recounted the events, hesitantly but honestly. When he'd finished, the two visitors exchanged long looks.

            "So," Buck concluded, "you lied to Oliver."

            Penny shifted in discomfort. "Well, his ma began the lie. I supported it."

            Buck pressed him, "You who never lie, told a lie."

            "Well, yes. I done so to save a life."

            Buck nodded. "That's what we heered in town, happened. Lem's rarin'. He don't like it that you lied to Oliver."

            Penny blinked.

            Mill-wheel clarified, "Not out of ary regard for Oliver. But 'cause you spoilt our plans."

            Buck went on, "The fire was the bait in a trap, a way to lure him to us. We was layin' for him. We was ready to ambush him. Hothead that he is, we figgered he'd foller us. Without meanin' to, Jody a'most he'ped us, by tellin' Oliver we done it. Then, you ruined it."

            "Are you hopin' I'll say I'm sorry? But I ain't."

            "You will be," Buck said matter-of-factly. "Lem wants we should beat hell outen you for it."

            "He...ain't here with you...."

            "No," said Mill-wheel. "We jest come to talk to you first. To be sure of our facts."

            Penny said carefully, "I hope I kin count on you two fellers to talk him outen it, or stop him."

            Buck informed him, "Lem wants we two should be in on it agin. Volusia all over agin, but without Jody nor Oliver in it."

            Penny was shocked. He swallowed hard. "I cain't b'lieve that's what you two fellers want."

            Mill-wheel responded, "We ain't none too pleased with you neither, Penny. We wanted Oliver. We had it set up and you interfered agin. Iffen we'd had him that night, we'd not be lookin' to settle for you now."

            "But, ...I didn't even know...."

            "And iffen you had knowed?" Buck challenged. "Would you've sacrificed Oliver? Or would you've crossed us agin?"

            Penny opened his mouth and then shut it. They already knew the answer.

            "You acted to save him," Mill-wheel concluded, "knowin' that allus goes agin our wishes, whether we had a pertickler plan or not."

            Penny drew in a deep breath. "I'm...glad he's alive. But I'm sorry I disappointed you."

            Then, Buck stated formally, "We're gonna do it Lem's way."

            "No." Penny drew back from them.

            Their eyes were relentless, unyielding.

            Trying to hold both anger and fear in check, he replied, "So you'll jest...return with him soon and...beat hell outen me agin? What iffen I take Ory and Jody and go off for awhiles? I s'pose you'll burn this place to the ground, too, whilst we're gone?"

            Refusing to be baited, Buck shook his head mildly. "You'll not git the chancet to do nothin' like that. We're takin' you back with us now."

            "No!" Penny slid back against the wall in alarm.

            Buck and Mill-wheel both rose and stood over him.

            Mill-wheel asked almost conversationally, "Now do we have to smash your dignity by draggin' you? Is that what you want Jody and Miss Ory to see?"

            Penny deflated in misery, and said, "No, but kin I tell you two fellers somethin'?"

            They both nodded.

            "I'm afraid. Our fight in Volusia done taught me a lesson. Plus, I'm gittin' too old for this here. And remember, this has been a rough year." He intentionally alluded to the snakebite from which the two of them had saved him.

            They watched him for a moment.

            Then Buck said, "We'll not kill you. We got a purty good idee jest how much you kin take and what you cain't."

            Mill-wheel added, "And iffen you feel too bad hurted to come back here on your own, afterward, we'll tote you back."

            "I thank you for that. But I still don't want to. I'm still...frightened."

            Buck's expression softened slightly. "I kin understand that. But hit don't make no diff'rence."

            "You're goin' with us," Mill-wheel ordered. "Now."

            A dejected, badly scared Penny struggled to his feet, seeming to age ten years in the time that it took him to rise. He looked up at them, and met their eyes with great sadness and fear.

            They ushered him out of the door.

            In departing from Baxters' Island, Penny managed to hold his head high, and keep the truth from Ory and Jody, so as not to worry them. But upon arrival at Forresters' Island, Penny allowed it to droop disconsolately, as he watched the other four mountainous men troop out of their cabin to meet him and his escorts.

            Buck said briefly, "Lem, it happened the way we heered."

            With eyes full of dread, Penny faced their intimidating height. He addressed Arch, Pack, and Gabby, "You, too?"

            Their grim expressions told the tale.

            Penny was noticeably trying to keep the greatest distance between himself and Lem.

            Lem laughed and displayed a fist. Buck and Mill-wheel moved into formation, completing an all-too-familiar triangle around Penny.

            Penny put up his hands as if they'd aimed guns at him. "Lem, I don't wanta do this. I'm...scared."

            Lem laughed deeper, and his brothers echoed him.

            As they moved in on him, Penny met Buck's eyes with his own heartbroken ones.

 

            Two hours later, Buck helped Penny get home. He eased the bruised and battered, agonized man into his bed, and stood looking down at him for a moment. Buck ever-so-gently let his hand caress a discolored cheek. Penny seemed almost oblivious. But as Buck made to draw his hand away, Penny quickly seized it in his own. Their eyes met. For a long moment, they silently held the pose.

            Then Penny asked, "Will we be friends agin? Or is it over?"

            "Wa'n't sure you'd want to be," the big man responded.

            "Mebbe not right this second. But soon. But I'll be afraid to go over there to your place."

            Buck nodded. "I'll give it a week-two. Then I'll come over."