to overlook his fondness for feminine companionship. Throughout their marriage he had been drunk on numerous occasions, but he had always come home to her. She also had noticed that with age, he was appearing to be slowing down in his pursuit of the opposite sex and like he had said, ‘’Who would have all of them, anyway?”
The men hurried down the road leading to Hickory. Passing a farmhouse, John spotted a young man about his age sitting on the front porch swing with his wife cuddled close to him. That should be me out there on a porch of my own home, with my wife by my side, he thought, trying not to stare at the couple. “Life sure hasn’t been fair,” he mumbled to himself.
“What’d you say, John?” Tim asked.
“Nothing, just thinking.”
As they neared a stream, the Professor led his horse out into the water. “Better give ‘em a rest now. We still have a way to go.”
For a few moments the men made small talk as they dismounted and rested on the creek bank. As they rose to mount, the Professor said, “John, wasn’t sure you’d come with us tonight. You need to get away from the place more often. You need to be more sociable.”
“Got a farm to work, Fessor. The Yanks almost put us under. Time I get the work done, ain’t much time left for others,” John said.
“You going with the best looking woman in the county. If’n she was my woman, I’d stay over there from daylight to dark. I bet you don’t see her once a month,” Tim said, wading out to his horse.
“She is a looker, John,” the Professor agreed, stepping up in the stirrups.
“What exactly am I getting into tonight?” John asked, not caring to discuss his relationship with Suzanne.
“Tim told you about all that I know,” the Professor replied, bringing his horse to a cantor. “We’re tired of the way the government’s been run since the war ended. We think we can change some things. Something’s got to happen to give us some relief.”
Having no idea about what he had in mind and wondering if it was legal, John said, “Is this going to get someone in trouble with the law?”
“Not for sure, John. I don’t know much more than you do, but I do know a building is going to get torched over near the Decatur courthouse tonight. That should keep the Federal men occupied for the evening,” Hendon replied.
“Torched,” John exclaimed, wondering if he had made a wise decision in going with the group. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“The building is vacant. Won’t be nobody hurt. It’ll give us some privacy,” Tim said.
Nearing the small rail town of Hickory, John was apprehensive about the evening and he felt that the Professor and Tim knew more than they had shared with him.
As they entered the town, the Professor pulled his horse to a stop in front of a store near the tracks and told the boys to remain mounted and he would be back in a moment.
John and Tim noticed a steady stream of horsemen and occasionally a buggy moving east down the main street, and it was no doubt that the meeting place was somewhere in that direction.
The professor soon returned, remounted his horse and pointed east. “It’s about a mile down the tracks; can’t miss it.”
Making a turn in the road that ran parallel with the tracks, the men saw a large warehouse built next to the tracks so cotton could be loaded easily on the train. Everywhere they looked, they saw horses and buggies tied to makeshift hitching posts and in some cases young boys were left outside to watch over the horses. The men dismounted and tied their horses to some tree branches and hurriedly made their way through a steady flow of men toward the warehouse. Nearing the building, the Professor recognized several of the men and waved.
As he approached, one called out, “’Bout time you got here, Hendon. Thought Little Rock weren’t gonna be represented. The General ain’t here, yet.
“General,” John said. “Who are they talking about?”
No one replied as they moved through the crowd. At the entrance, John saw two men checking everyone as they entered the building. When Professor Hendon, Tim, and John reached the doorway, one of the men put out his hand to Hendon and said, “Good to see you Ernest. Thought you might not be coming. Who you got with you?”
Turning to John and Tim, the Professor replied, “This young man is Timothy Johnson and the other is John Wilson. I’ve known them all their life. In fact, I taught them both. They can be trusted.”
Looking over at John one of the men said, “You any kin to Jake and Lott Wilson?”
“Jake was my uncle and Lott’s my father.”
“Jake and I used to run some together, that is before he got himself kilt. How’s Lott doing?” one of the men asked.
“He’s not in the best of health but he’s doing all right,” John answered.
“Well, if’n you’re anything like them, you’re the kind of man we’re looking for. Now y’all better get on inside. It’s about time to get things started. Our guest is running a little late. The train from Meridian is behind time.”
The kind of man we’re looking for, thought John. What do they mean by that?
The Professor remained outside talking with the men while John and Tim worked their way inside the crowded building. The large crowd of over two hundred made the August heat almost unbearable. John and Tim immediately removed their coats and tried to get closer to the platform that had been built at the far end of the gin. The air was filled with tobacco smoke, and the sound of men talking and laughing made normal conversation difficult. As they edged their way forward, they heard someone behind them call out, “Tim Johnson! John Wilson! Back here!”
Turning, they spotted Frankie Olliver pushing his way toward them. “I’d ‘bout given you two up. Thought you were gonna miss out on this here get together,” Frankie said, extending his hand. “You won’t believe who’s gonna be here tonight.”
Before John and Tim could question him, someone called out, “Frank Olliver, we need you up front. Right now!”
John and Tim looked at each other, astonished at why someone wanted to see Frankie.
“What in the world?” Tim exclaimed.
At that moment a very dignified looking man made his way up on the platform and a hush came over the crowd.
Stepping up behind the podium the man said, “Gentlemen, I’m Daniel McWorthan from over at Meridian. I run a business there and some of you may know me. Before I begin I want to thank all of you for coming out and before this thing’s over tonight, I think you’ll be glad you came. I’ve got a few questions to ask you before I introduce our special guest. First, how many of you like the way this here Federal Government is treating you?”
A roar of disgust erupted.
“How you like the taxes they put on ya?” the man continued.
Once again nothing but shouting and hissing could be heard as excitement filled the air.
Stepping
