“Well, it seems that some of the men decided to gang up on Dad.”

“And wipe him out?”

“Something like that. They caught up with him in a big room of the old brick court house. I was with Dad. And was I thrilled!”

“Scared?”

“No! Of course not! I said Dad was with me, didn’t I?”

“Oh, sure. But—”

“Dad didn’t let the gang get too close to him.” She tensed a little. “There were a dozen of those men, all armed. Dad just sort of backed off a little and then crossed his arms over his chest with one hand under each arm.”

“And then what?” he whispered.

“Dad said,” Gale drew a long breath. “I can just hear him now. He said, ‘Well, boys, you can kill me, but I’ll get two of you’.”

“What did you do?” Jimmie asked.