Chapter 24

Bernie and I rode for a ways up the mountain on a narrow trail. Bernie said, "Now I am gonna warn ya'. Most folks up this way don't take too kindly to strangers. They keep to themselves and I hardly have any trouble out of them." "I reckon some of them are probably outlaws or wanted for something and move up here to start a life and not be bothered by their past sins. As long as they don't create no trouble, I don't bother them." "The little community we are going to started with a group of 2 couples who were related by marriage, the sisters, MayBell and MaryBeth, decided that after they lost their parents they didn't want to be apart, and convinced their husbands, twins Isaiah and Alan Shoemaker to build homes close to one another. The husbands invited a friend who showed up one day with a woman and her boy, nobody asked no questions and they have settled right into a peaceable little settlement." "That little settlement has grown to about seven different families and they all work together, planting fields and sharing crops, helping each other out with the young'uns and such. Never have gave me a moment's trouble".

I nodded my head and rode on silently. After about a mile or so we came upon an opening in the woods, surrounded by a couple of houses and children playing in the grassy area out front. They all stopped and stared as the two riders rode into the clearing. Bernie put out his hand to stop me and hollered, "Hello, the house." The children scattered like scared rabbits. A screen door on the house closest to them opened and a women of strong build stepped out onto the porch.

Shading her eyes with her hand she nodded to the Sheriff. "Afternoon MaryBeth," Bernie said. "Sheriff," she replied. Bernie said, "This here's the doc that Miz Maisy has been waiting on, can you direct us to where she is," he asked. MaryBeth Shoemaker looked at me, sizing me up and hollered over her shoulder, "Gus, come on out here," her eyes never leaving me. The screen door came open again and a gangly boy of about 15 stepped out wiping his mouth, "Ma'm," he said. "You finished eatin' yet?' MaryBeth asked him, "Just now, ma, why?" he asked. "Take the Sheriff and the doc out to where Maisy is holed up with the sick folks. Don't go nowhere near the door, just point them to it and high-tail it back here. We got too much to do today and you cain't get sic." "Yes Ma'm," he replied, stepping off the porch and heading towards a small shed next to the house. Gus'll lead ya'll up there but don't be asking him to go no farther, too many folks done got sick and I don't want none of it around here," she said to Bernie pointedly. "Yes Ma'm," he replied and she turned and went back into the house.

"Follow me sheriff, it ain't far," Gus said to them and they rode off single file down another narrow trail, with me bringing up the rear..