The villagers laughed and joked about their grubby little murders. How both took so long to die struggling to breathe and acting out the hanging with such diverse pleasure. Not one felt sorrow for them not even those that spoke out cause in the end they enjoyed it all too much. They enjoyed it more they anyone should. The male villagers offered to pay for drinks at the tavern for the brothers to celebrate an offer they quickly accepted.

The villagers rode back into town laughing and shouting for all to hear. They sat in the tavern many of the villagers that did not go surrounded them to hear their tale. Quite a few offered to buy them more drinks till all were drunk and pleasured beyond their dreams. Not all were so joyful or pleased with what had happened. Most particularly the sheriff Jason Lincoln and Dr. Walsh who remained safe along with his wife. Since he was the only doctor for miles. This was too much for Jason to bare because in his eyes they would never see justice for the villagers would always back the four men up. Or else they will face the same punishment as the Gages. With no choice Jason packed up what few belongings he had into his saddle bags and left the office. A place he ran for the last twenty-five years before he left the office, he threw down his badge on the floor. He got up on his horse and rode out of town. By the time he left the village the sun was beginning to set, Jason rode hard and fast to the Gages.

Completely unnoticed by the villagers as all were so enamored by the story being told. That it would take two days before anyone noticed that he had left the office for good. It didn’t take long for him to be replaced the villagers voted Jeremiah as the new sheriff and his brothers were the deputies. From the moment they took over the office the town changed so much that only white families were allowed to settle. There were a few Asian, and Africans but they were only there to serve their new masters by working the fields as slaves.

Soon the town forgot what they had done as most believed that there were no witnesses to come forward, but they were wrong. In the trees, Faith and her mother saw it all happen but were too scared to move or to help.

Once all were gone, they started to move out of the trees to check on Nico. To see if he still had life in him as they moved out of trees slowly and cautiously. They were only a few feet from Nicole and Coster when they heard the sound of horse hoofs approaching. Faith grabbed her mother’s hand and ran for the cover of the trees before the rider came into sight. Faith looked back and saw that the rider coming around the corner was only Jason Lincoln.

When he turned the corner what he saw shocked him to the bone. His two friends hung swaying in the breeze while Nico lay chained to the ground. His unconscious body just laid there while his dog Blackie laid beside him protecting him from any more harm. Unlike before as he too hid under the house for safety when they came. This time he would protect him from anyone who should come on their land. Jason rode past Nico and straight for his parents hoping by some miracle they might be alive. The closer he got to them he saw that there was no life. With this Jason lost all hope for Nico as well even though he beloved dog still guarded him.

With nothing left to be done to save their lives Jason got down off his horse and positioned his horse under Coster’s body. He climbed the ladder left by the villagers and cut the noose allowing him to fall onto the back of the horse. Then he placed his body carefully on the ground turning around to do the same for Nicole. He placed her body beside that of her husbands. From the forest, Sarah and Faith would sense that he was not like the others and that he really cared for them. They emerged slowly from the forest, yet Jason was not startled by their appearance for he knew they were always there. They helped him cover the bodies with a blanket protecting them from the elements. As they tended to the dead none of three thought to check on Nico as they believed him to dead too. Faith still believed that he was still alive as she knew what strength he had even though no one else did. Faith walked away from her mother and Jason as they were trying to find a decent place to bury his parents. The closer she got Nico the more and more she felt his life force. For some unknown reason Blackie allowed her to check him perhaps he felt the goodness in her heart.

Faith knelt by him placing her hand near his mouth and much to her shock she felt his warm breath on her palm. Her blue eyes opened as wide as they could, and she spoke softly and quietly. “He still draws life.” Then quickly shouted out loud back at her mother and Jason.

“He is still alive!”