Distant Lovers - 6

While standing numb from the pain in his heart Mace stepped aside, whistled to his horse..Then took the flowers from his side. Then he kneeled down and spoke a few words to Lily and placed fresh flowers on her grave. His eyes again full of tears. He stood turned to Poppy; "Lets get!" he said. Poppy asked him to slow down...to think what they will do next. "I'm going to kill that little bastard."
"NO! you are not going to kill him Mr.Mace he's a child"
said Poppy. When his Maw heard that she was bawling now really loud. His little sister's were crying too. 1

Mace was so angry that he rode off without Poppy, leaving her with the heartbroken scared Eve. After pushing his horse for about 15 minutes really hard . He slowed down; wondering where to look for a run away kid. Thinking out loud; "where would an old curse like me hide out? Would I run tell my Paw he could marry-up with Maw? Oh hell yea"... said Mace.2

So he head for his old home. Back to the border. He had to just find Trace Reed and he would find the little killer. Then he will have to deal with the Paw. No doubt in his mind. Wonder if he put this kid up to ending his marriage to Lily? Fed him a lot of low-down trash talk? Mace was wild with the imagery that Trace had something to do with it....3

Well he rode until the sun fell asleep and drifted off behind a cloud, it was dark. He stopped to water his horse Charleston Blue. Name after a razon given to him by his uncle from Charleston, Virginia.
Mace unsaddled his companion and let him rest. That night he had terrible dreams. That he was in prison because he had shot and killed a child. He saw Lily and she was unhappy begging him to understand the boy. He awoke in a sweat; shaking from head to toe. First I find the father, then get the kid to confess he told his-self...that's what Lily would want.4

Sunrise was awesome, he ate a piece of hard tack and filled his canteen with fresh water. He took his hand an scooped up a couple of handfuls; some to wash out his mouth, drink and wash his face. He water C.B. gave her part of the apple he was eating. Replaced the saddle, buckled the straps and mounted...he head for Layfayette, Louisiana. It use to be home sweet home.5

Now back in Texas the ladies and the children were boarding the train. On their way back home also. Poppy praying that his anger would cool down to a simmer before he reached home. Because when he left he was beyond the boiling point with blood in his eyes. Eve was afraid and prayed the town would not blame her. After all they(town-people) are the ones with the mean children that drove her son to become so evil.6

After 3 days of riding Mace had cooled off, but he was still hurt. The pain ate away at him like a darn termite destorying a house. Slowly he was crumbling, wanting to die without his beloved Lily. Then he saw the sign Layfayette bout 8 miles....He frowned. 7

Time for business and find out who put this kid up to killing the lady that still held his heart even in death.8

(more to come) 9

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