Excerpt from The Heritage From Within
The judge quickly straightened at some papers on his desk, "Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Our first case today will be the State of Texas verses Floyd Brooks, Weldon Whitaker, and KK Morgan all charged with rustling. Will all three defendants please stand up?"
The boys pushed up to their feet.
"How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?".
Three times the courtroom filled with the word guilty.
"As you know, there are some fine folks here today that are going to try to help you. Since you've all confessed to the crime, there's no need in a hearing. We’ll move right into the punishment phase, and it goes like this; in the matter of Floyd Brooks and Weldon Whitaker. I hereby release you to the custody of Mrs. Angelica Edwards at Bowie, Texas, for a period of five years. If in that five years you make any trouble whatsoever, I will send you to prison for a period of fifteen years. Do you understand?"
Joe heard "Yes, sir" two times.
"Now in the case of K. K. Morgan; I hereby release you to the custody of Mr. Richard L. Layman, Fort Worth, Texas, for a period of five years. If in that five years you make any trouble whatsoever, I will send you to prison for a period of fifteen years. Do you understand?"
Again Joe heard, "Yes, sir."
"Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Layman, I would like to have a report every six months on the progress of these boys. Do you understand?"
"Yes," they both replied.
"That's the decision of this court. Sheriff, you may release the boys. This court is dismissed," he said, slamming down the gavel. "I would like to see both Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Layman in my chamber."
After entering and taking a seat, the judge gave them an address to send the reports to. "I hope we've done the right thing," he said, "and I wish you both well. May God be with you."
Angelica shook his hand and thanked him for his understanding.
Joe went across to the livery, paid the bill to get the boys’ horses and hitched up the surrey. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks had already hitched up their buggy and were going to follow Joe back to Bowie. In just a few minutes they were on their way home with their new family.
They arrived late. Joe told the boys to unhitch the surrey and put the horses away. They had just enough bunks in the bunkhouse. They each picked one and went to sleep. Joe lay for the longest time looking up at the ceiling, thinking of what the judge had said about Floyd waiting for his chance to take revenge. He reached up and took the colt from the holster and slid it under his pillow. Then he turned over to face in the direction of the two sleeping newcomers. He had that awful feeling in the pit of his stomach, the one he had gotten each time just before having to kill someone.
