The Saving of Joel Claughtrey, Part Iv
Dale fell to the ground, shot through the chest,
in shock as Joel paced on up to him,
his last words were “Why? Why did you do it?”
Said Joel,”Because that boy is my kin.”
So quickly it ended, Red Hawk emerged,
his face pale and ashen from the fray,
Joel took the rifle, clasped the boy’s shoulder,
said,”Your ma was wise to keep you away.”
Running Moon came out from behind a tree,
taking in the bloody, brutal scene.
Joel said,”Maybe we should head for the west,
to Alaska, where nobody knows me.”
It was agreed, and they all made the trip
settling down just outside Anchorage,
building a new cabin, with three whole rooms,
just beneath a gentle, wooded ridge.
It didn’t all resolve itself right away,
there were long months spent building trust,
but eventually Running Moon came to know
that for Joel she was always enough.
So Joel lived out his days working a saw-mill,
with big blades pushed by rushing water,
and neither Red Hawk, nor their growing brood,
would have to go through life without a father.
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