PROOF OF DEVOTION

 

 

            Lem had knocked Penny against the barn wall, accusing him of having lied about the deer that he'd killed. Buck and Mill-wheel had come hurrying. Lem had stalked away in anger.

            Now speaking only to his two trusted friends, Penny took a deep breath and said, "I'm tellin' the truth, but I don't know o' no way to prove it to you. But I value my friendship with you two fellers, and I gotta ease your minds somehow. Iffen you two b'lieve with Lem, you'll feel better iffen you hit me, too. So go 'head, iffen you don't b'lieve me." He stood quietly and waited.

            The two Forresters' brows rose, and they were clearly impressed at his offer. But they were just as clearly considering it.

            Penny made himself stand still and meet their eyes.

            "Don't tempt us, Penny," Buck warned. "We jest might surprise you."

            "I'm prepared. Iffen it'll he'p our friendship by easin' your minds a mite, so's you kin feel like you punished me, too, then go 'head."

            "Ezra, no!" Ory protested, and then implored the men, "No! Please!"

            "Ory," Penny said quietly, "I owe 'em my life. Iffen they wanta take it, they have the right. We'll not resist nor beg. Now I want you to go in the house and stay there. Don't git a gun. Don't do nothin'. And take Jody with you, so's he ain't tempted to do nothin' foolish." To the men, he added, "Please don't hurt Jody." Then, he bent down to his son, and said softly but urgently, "Don't try nothin'. You cain't stop 'em. And I don't want you hurted like afore."

            Buck and Mill-wheel exchanged a glance, clearly wondering just how badly the boy had been hurt by Lem in the fight in Volusia.

            Ory and Jody reluctantly but obediently retreated into the house.

            Buck and Mill-wheel studied Penny for long minutes, while the latter willed himself not to fidget. At last, they turned away to confer. When they returned to him, their expressions were set.

            "We've made our decision," Buck informed him.

            "And that is?" Penny requested evenly.

            Buck made a fist.

            Penny closed his eyes.

            But instead of feeling a blow, Penny felt a hand on his shoulder. His eyes flew open in surprise.

            Buck wore a half-smile. "I jest got one question for you."

            "Yes?"

            "Are you afeered?"

            "Yes, but...."

            "Then we'll not," Buck decided.

            Penny couldn't quite hide his relief.

            "You was terrified!"

            "I kin show you how much." Penny reached and took Buck's hand, and placed it over his heart.

            Buck's eyes bulged as he felt the pounding. "Gawd!"

            As Buck released him, Mill-wheel placed his own hand on the diminutive chest, to also feel the nearly bursting heart. He shook his head at what he felt.

            Mill-wheel wondered, "Was you this afeered in Volusia?"

            "When I seed you two come at me from each side, I was terrified."

            Buck and Mill-wheel laughed good-naturedly.

            "Still friends?"

            They nodded, grinning.

            Buck concluded, "You must really like us a heap, to be willin' to face that much fear, jest to have things smooth betwixt us."