Snippet #2032074

Just as Hattie was about to lead the children inside the general store, gunshots rang out and pair of riders dragging some poor soul down the main street. The girl’s eyes went wide at the brutal sight, as Hattie wrapped her arms around the three innocent girls putting her between the sight and the children's eyes. Partly Hattie did this to shield them just in case a stray bullet from the guns would come their way, and to shield them from the horrible sight of a man dragged to death.

Cami, Josie and Emma began to sob into their sister's apron "Hattie what’s happening" cried Cami.

"Why did they have shoot Sissy" Josie said while covering her ears.

"I want my Pappy!" Emma exclaimed as she dropped her doll on the ground from the shock of the sight she had just beheld.

"Shhh... It's alright I'm here and ain't nothing gonna hurt ya. But you need to calm down" she cooed to the girls kneeling down and kissing them. Gently caressing their hair as she embraced them their cries soon died down to sniffles. Hattie turned back to the sight, whoever he was he looked a terrible mess, if he was alive, Hattie prayed if he was that wouldn't be suffering.

What had become of this town, they had only been here about half a season it was an active mining town, but the only disturbances had been a few drunks here and there. But this was horrible Hattie had never beheld such a cruel sight in her life, what was worse than that is her little sisters had seen it as well. Hattie's heart beat in her chest; surely the sheriff had heard this commotion. There had to be someone to stand up to these men who thought nothing of shooting in broad daylight in front of women and children, with no thought of the terrible consequences of something like that. They had no respect for life of anyone, torturing that poor soul they were dragging, and for what God what was this world coming to.

The only thing Hattie could think to do was pray...

"Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen." She prayed under her breath and gently rocked the girls in her arms.

‘We gut' a message to Mista' Hass!'' one of the men yelled making Hattie jump. When she turned back a young woman that wasn't much older than her walked up to the men on the horses, Hattie swallowed hard as the scene played out before her. "How can she do that, she must be out of her ever loving mind... Where's the sheriff... Isn’t any man brave enough to step up to these evil men?" she thought to herself.

"Sir, you need to leave," she said coldly, "This man needs a doctor. That is, if he isn't already dead."

Hattie gasped and put her hand over her mouth from the sure shock of what the woman had just done; saying something so defiant to men like that was like signing your own death warrant.