That night Ike said his prayers along with the boys, kissed them good night, told them that he loved them and went to his room.
He unfastened the gold watch, pressed open the lid, listened to the tune, and looked at the wedding picture—and remembered.
He knew that soon one of two things would happen: He would come back and kiss Jed and Obie again as they slept, or . . . he would be with his beloved Rachel.
Ike closed the lid of the watch and set it on the table next to his bed.
He strapped on the gun belt, lifted the Remington from its holster and checked to make sure there was a cartridge in each of the six chambers, then replaced the weapon into the holster.
Ike stopped by the kitchen, where Sister Bonney and Melena sat drinking coffee.
“I’m going out for a little while, ladies. The boys are asleep. They should be all right ’til I get back. Good night.”
“Good night,” both Sister Bonney and Melena said.
Both couldn’t help noticing that Ike was wearing the gun.
This was the first time Ike had left Jed and Obie while Uncle Jake was away.