Eleanor Tatum

After lectures from her about his hard work an long hours on their jointly owned farm, and promises to stay longer during his next visit, he finally headed west and let Jenny lead him home. The shade-worthy live oak limbs and Spanish moss covered the bend in the lazy road. He felt his muscles slug, and he let his guard drop to a sleepy level, a rare event.

The six riders who came out of the shadows found him ridiculously unprepared. “Stand and hold!”

“What the….?” Edward reached for his weapon, but their shot stung his hand, and he bent over in pain.

When they pulled him from his wagon, Jenny overreacted and bolted, talking his wagon with her. The kick-jabs into his ribs hurt, but the fourth blow to his head darkened his world.

****

Dianna slowed her team of horses to safely make the bend in the road, and she turned around at her waist to face the giggles. “Ladies, really, what’s so humorous? That Baptist revival wasn’t meant to be entertaining to you. You were the entertainment.” The tug on her hold of the reins returned her attention to her horses and the road. The team stopped and pranced nervously and refused to proceed. “Settle down.” Dianna set the wagon’s brake and called to her young charges, “Stay here, girls. I’ll just be a moment. There’s something in the road frightening the horses.”

It frightened her too. The body was still, bloody, and bruised, but he appeared to be breathing. She gingerly bent closer. “Sir, may we help you? Sir?” No answer.

“Who is he, Miss Dianna?”

“Cecelia, please get back in the wagon. Whoever did this might still be around.”

“Oh, I doubt it, miss. Momma says cowards usually runs. It was cowards who beat this man.” Cecelia slowly walked around the body. “I know him! Sally Mae, come down here.”

Sally and a few others took the opportunity to stretch their legs. “Oh no, poor Mr. Coffman!” Her huge dark eyes jumped to Dianna’s speechless expression. “Papa has a job with him. Starts tomorrow, I think. Momma and Papa will be upset not to get this job.”

Dianna shook her head as if too much information needed settling. “So, you know where he lives?”