The Favored

Prevented from screaming by a hard hand suddenly clasping over her mouth, Ellie tried to wiggle free but Jacob held fast, preventing her from running toward the men. Alec quickly thrust his hand over his head to block John's attack but the force of the hickory staff slamming hard to his arm broke his wrist. Job left his staff in the wagon but already had the best of Calvin, who was unarmed and drunk. Falling backwards under Job's blows, Calvin lay writhing on the ground as Job began kicking him repeatedly in the face. Reaching up blindly, Calvin managed to grab Job's pant leg hanging on pathetically, but Job continued to finish him off. Vernon raised his staff against Mather and the pointed end came down with full force, the bison horn on the staff sinking deep into his skull. Jacob held Ellie tighter, muffling her scream then she went limp in his arms. Mather staggered for a brief moment, eyes wide in shock, and then his legs gave out. Vernon quickly placed a foot on Mather's neck and pulled the horn free. John quickly finished Alec as he swung the point of his staff into Alec's left ear. It was over in seconds. Vernon and John gasped for breath, propping themselves up with their staffs. Job fell to his knees vomiting. Vernon's eyes narrowed, watching his brother retching on the ground. The sight filled him with revulsion. "Get up, Job, you sniveling sod! Get up and fetch the wagon! Now!" Job rose, sobbing and wiping blood from his eyes as he stared in horror at the dead men sprawled on the blood soaked grass. Alec, Calvin and Mather Cardwell were no more. Job cried, "My God! What have we done here?"