The Final Chapter
It was the summer of 1888, and Trish McDougal was enjoying the sounds of her children in the yard, chasing each other, giggling and shrieking with laughter. The cooling breezes danced around them. Trish chuckled at the antics of the children. What a wonderful day, she thought, one of the most beautiful she had seen. As always, her thoughts drifted to John. She could feel his love for her.
John had just returned from a mission. She had missed him so, even after twenty-one years of marriage. Trish found father and son working together not far away. She called to them and John looked up smiling at her. She continued walking toward her love, the father of her children. That little voice in her head suddenly screamed, “Run!”
She didn’t reach him in time. As she picked John up, she saw the acknowledgment of what was happening in his eyes. As Trish gathered her beloved in her arms, Johnny realized what had just happened. She sat on the ground holding John and crooning to him as his life’s- blood spilled onto her dress. John reached for her, gently touching her chin. “This is not goodbye, love.”
Trish wasn’t aware of his leaving. It was as if she were under a spell. She continued to cradle and sing was breathless as he returned with their neighbors, Ethan and Lynn Kilkesen, his parents’ best friends. “Mother,” Johnny kept repeating, as he knelt by her side, trying to get Trish’s attention. He looked up helplessly at their neighbors.
Lynn eased Trish to her feet and took her and the children back into the house. Jacob helped them inside. Trish only made it as far as the settee before collapsing. The doctor was summoned to tend to Trish. There was nothing to be done for John; he had been fatally wounded by a young man riding swiftly by. Patricia’s parents were also called. Once Jacob was sure they were all in good hands with Lynn, he left to attend to his good friend John.
Outside, Jacob and Ethan lifted John’s lifeless body into the wagon. Johnny accompanied the others on the trip into town; it was a very silent ride. After returning from town, Johnny almost collapsed as he sat down by the tree Becky, Stephen Ray, and young Robert had been chasing each other around only hours before. They were laughing and frolicking right here, only a short time ago, he thought. Now he could hear them, inconsolable, calling for their papa.
With arms wrapped tightly around his knees, he lowered his head and began to mourn. After a while, he raised his head and put much effort into composing himself. I must be strong for Mother and the others. I must take care of them. Rising slowly, he walked toward the door.
Trish’s parents arrived shortly behind Doc. All three entered the house together. Doc immediately went about tending to Patricia, who was now in bed. He administered laudanum and offered his support. Patricia’s parents walked in to see a whirlwind of activity. The younger grandchildren were sobbing, wanting their parents, asking where their big brother Johnny had gone with Ethan. Lynn was attempting to comfort the children. Together, Patricia’s parents helped Lynn settle the children down.
Upon glancing at Patricia, Klaus became distraught and had to step outside for a moment. Instinctively, Margaret set about running the home, unsure what comfort she could offer her daughter. The feelings welling up in both Margaret and Klaus were foreign. They had always known the correct way to act, but this? They were completely at a loss for the proper response to this situation.
Seeing the state of Patricia’s parents, Lynn also instinctively placed her hand on Margaret’s shoulder, asking if she was all right. Margaret turned, hugged her, and asked if she could stay with them. Margaret saw how good Lynn was with the children and knew that she would need help not only with the children but with Patricia.
Officially, John was taken to the hospital for four days. In reality, he died and was buried in three days. Patricia’s father had identified John’s body. Patricia was unable to attend the viewing or burial. Word was sent from house to house that John had been murdered and that the culprit or culprits had escaped.
The undertaker cleaned John’s wounds and prepared his body for the viewing. Gently, respectfully, the funeral director placed John in the gathering room of the couple’s home and went about completing the final preparations for the viewing. Patricia was in no shape to receive anyone; she was out of her mind with grief.
John did not know his killer personally but knew of him. His death was made to look like an accident, but it wasn’t. Both North and South were involved in John’s death. Each thought John was working for the other. There was still much distrust from both the North and South.
John was killed because of his work. Unofficially, word was sent out six months earlier for his capture. Powerful men in the government wanted John dead.
If John hadn’t been killed he would have been hung for his “crime.” John’s only crime was working closely with the President and Pinkerton.
Big Tom was one of the men responsible for John’s death. He was heard boasting of the murder in a roadhouse shortly after. Big Tom didn’t get his name from his stature but because he talked so much. Many heard him boasting about a murder.
Jacob vowed to avenge John’s death, and he would also be the one to look after John’s family. Jacob had always been observant of those around him. He would remember even the smallest detail that most others would dismiss without thinking. His ability to observe others was heightened by John’s death. Jacob could go into any roadhouse within fifty miles of his home. No one refused him entrance, possibly because of his size or the fear he inspired.
Big Tom and Jayme Duncan were found dead on the trail. It appeared that their horses had been startled and they were thrown, hit their heads on rocks and had broken their necks. There was little to no investigation into the deaths because the law had heard rumors of Big Tom’s boasting.
The men Jacob killed to avenge John’s death opposed the President’s ideas of abolishing slavery. They were two large plantation owners from Virginia. Both were involved in the plot to kill John. William McPhearson was the mastermind of the plot and had over one hundred acres of land. George Wilson had less land than McPhearson. Wilson took four men from his plantation, young Billy McPhearson, and another man from the McPhearson plantation to carry out the murder.
After John’s murder, William McPhearson was bold enough to leave his Virginia plantation and come to Louisiana with a plan to possess John’s land, to add insult to injury.
Billy Richmond was found on a farm road leading from his property to the main road. His neck was broken. He was found on his back with his right leg bent. A farmhand found him because his horse came back without him. Everyone was shocked that he had been thrown from his mount, because it was the gentlest horse on the farm.
Robert Brown was found lying in the bushes on the side of the main road, about two miles from town. Some thought it looked like a robbery. His throat was cut from ear to ear, and his pockets were turned inside out.
Joey Hunter’s was the goriest scene; he was beaten to death. His horse was next to him with a broken leg and had to be destroyed. There was blood on the horse’s front right hoof. Everyone thought Joey had been stomped to death by his horse.
Jacob was found two days after Joey Hunter, alive but with dried blood on his head and bloody hands. One of the farmhands went over to wake Jacob, because he was normally an early riser. No one ever asked Jacob why he was covered with blood.
He killed seven men to exact revenge for John’s death over a period of three years. Included in the seven were two high-ranking officials from the North. Each time someone was found dead, Jacob had been gone from the farm for a couple of days. Of the four men from the Wilson plantation, only three made it back to Virginia. No one knew who committed these crimes but Patricia. Jacob told her, “John can rest in peace now.”