Now Playing: The Silent Child
Episode Sixteen concluded with:
“Just give me a minute, I need to tell Kate
what’s going on.” Enoch stepped quickly toward the door to the living area. As
he opened it, he saw Kate sitting beside Pixie’s makeshift bed. His wife was
talking in a low voice to the child.
For a moment, the store owner became completely
engrossed in the scene before him. Pixie was nodding her head! The child seemed
to understand what Kate said to her and was responding to his wife’s words.
A voice sounded behind him. “Move inside the
room, Enoch. I have a gun pointed at your head.”
Episode Seventeen
The
store owner turned around slightly. “Put that thing away, Rupert! After what
happened this morning, Kate is in no mood for jokes--”
Something
raw and wild appeared in Rupert’s eyes. “This ain’t no joke, Enoch.” Rupert
cocked the six shooter. “Move inside, now!”
Enoch
moved into the living area still half believing the Bushrod Brothers were
playing an elaborate joke. That slight hope was quickly demolished. Pixie stood
up on the pile of blankets that was her makeshift bed and began to scream. At
first her voice was an inarticulate screech. Then words shot out from her. “I
remember ! I remember !” She pointed at the Bushrod Brothers. “Those men killed
my mommy and my daddy!”
Clarence
Bushrod quickly pulled a gun and pointed it at Pixie. “Shut that kid up!
Kate
Harper was in a state of near shock. Pixie was talking and two men that she had
always thought of as lovable jokers were now threatening the child with guns.
Clarence
repeated his order. “Quiet that kid, Kate. Now!”
Pixie
was close to being hysterical. Kate tried to comfort the child with soft words
as she placed a hand over Pixie’s mouth.
Rupert
pulled back the carpet, revealing the trapdoor underneath. He yanked the door
open and motioned with his gun. “Ever’ one downstairs.”
Enoch
looked shocked. Rupert answered his unspoken question. “Laszlo told us ‘bout
your secret basement.”
“You’d
be surprised how a few pieces of candy can loosen a man’s tongue,” Clarence
added. “We’ve found out quite a bit ‘bout the Harpers.”
“You’re
wonderful folks!” Rupert smiled broadly as he spoke. “The kind of people who
are needed to help bring civilization to the west. Darn shame you’re all gonna
be dead in a few minutes. But, wouldn’t you know it, that’s what often happens
to the kind of people who are needed to help bring civilization to the
west.” He once again motioned with his
gun. “Downstairs!”
Tomorrow:
Episode Eighteen of The Silent Child
