~ A True James Gang Story ~ (cont'd.)
They happily visited & swapped stories, of other family members in nearby states,
their latest doings, and all the usual things that country people talk about. Laughing
and joking, enjoying their time and relaxing at ease for a little while, till the lady of
the house appeared in the doorway and said, come on in now ya'll, supper's ready.
They ate a big meal and continued visiting, filling up on all of the good farm raised
viddles, roast beef with carrots, fried squash & taters, tomatoes & cucumbers, onions,
& the best homemade bisquits and gravy, washed down with strong tea or hot coffee.
When they were all done eating, joking, flirting and complimenting, they well thanked
the cooks, then after a smoke on the porch, retired to the barn. Getting ready for the
night, spreading their bedrolls, as the late evening sun began to grow dim, and the
fresh air cooled off. While their hosts went about getting the table cleared, washed
the dishes and put everything up, their was a gold coin laying under every one of
the men's plates. Then when they heard something down by the creek, they just
reckoned the boys were burying something, with sound of low talking an sorta'
like someone was digging. The night was dark, and the wind was still, and so
the folks never asked what they may have been doing down there...
Next day early after breakfast, JJ and his gang said goodbye. Saddled
up and rode out, and from that day, no one ever said anything about
knowing what they were doing, or if they ever checked to try and
find anything out about what they seemed to bury down there.
They didn't have detectors back then, and apparently were
content to keep it as a memory, maybe buried mystery.
...
