No Longer a Quaker, Part Ii

...He thought of it for many days, then went and bought a colt, when Ma saw it, she railed and screamed, her peace she could not hold. Redmon had to sleep at the ranch, in the big, long bunkhouse, but it was close to his home so he could keep an eye out. His mother gave silent treatment, believed her words were Heaven sent. It left poor Redmon riddled with a plethora of doubts. It went like this for several weeks, people kept getting robbed, Redmon rode in one afternoon from getting doggies bobbed, and in the distance, at the home strange horses he did see, fear rose and he sprinted his mount, Ttre across the prairie. The door was wide, inside the house, he saw sister without a blouse, and two men standing over her, grinning so lustily. The colt flashed fast form his holster, head-shot to the near man, the other went for his pistol and was quite fast of hand. Redmon got another shot off, but so did his damn foe, the bandit took it through the neck, collapsed, died in a choke. Redmon was shot in his left thigh, mother ran out, was by his side. “They said that they would kill us all, after they…well…you know…” They sent for doctor and lawman, and both were quickly there, Doc said,”It missed the blood vessels, there’s no need to despair.” Lawman said,”Those are Allen’s boys, they never were no good. Should have expected they would take anything that they could.” Took them out, and all were safe, mother had tears streaking her face, said,”Please, you saved us all today, move back in, if you would?” He said,”Ma, I cannot do that, I will carry a gun. If you even again need help just call, and I will run.” And though his mother still would not carry a gun herself, she stopped condemning those who did to a fiery hell. She saw that God made many paths that all would walk intil the last. What path was chosen for Redmon only time dared to tell.