The Man On The Bridge

The Man On The Bridge
#1

He went there every day
to watch the water flow so free away
His eyes were closed, head bowed
But not to pray

With God he had an issue ,
Which had to be worked out
His sense of perfect acceptance
Had turned to bitterness and doubt

Had God punished him by taking Lilly’s life ?
Lilly, the only woman he ever had or loved
She had quietly died in the night,
He had slept beside her near on to forty years
They had a good happy marriage, some tears.

Their children was born after she turned forty
That had caused some fears
In giving birth to three
His faith in God was renewed

He had put her away nicer than she had ever lived
After the funeral ,he took a few days
He had to break his eldest’s child’s heart
He had to tell her that she and school had to part
She was in the eight grade
Death In The Family

Lilly had been sewing,
into a woman daughter Bonnie was growing.
He would rather die than to break her heart
She was a good girl and oh so smart.
Helped her Mother with the house work.
Always ready to go with the family to church
Helped him if he was in a work lurch.

She could pitch hay with that big fork
In the fields like a boy, she would work.
She dressed better than she had to.
It was breaking his heart again to.
May be he could find a way
To find some one to move in to stay.
It used to happen that way
A person would take a home for the pay.
My Bonnie, how can I say
Your hopes and dreams were buried
with Lilly that day.
1.
Death In The Family #2

The house was so quiet with Lilly gone
She was always humming a song.
The children knew where every thing did belong
It seemed every thing wanted to go wrong .
The father, Will, went to the barn early every morning.
To hook up the milker before the rooster started crowing.

Will knew he had to change his routine
And so did the children.
They would think him mean.
Lilly had been the center of their life
Mother to the growing children, to him a wife.
She could get more done with out turning around
Than he could do on a fast trip to town.

While he was at the barn she got the children up
When he got back she handed him hot coffee in his cup.
She made breakfast while the children dressed for school
Now they had to set down and change the rule.
Josh was six, first grade, Julie nine, third grade made.
Bonnie fourteen finishing grammar school.
Couldn’t wait to be a freshman come late summer.
He would have to take her shopping
he couldn’t disappoint her.

Will had racked his brain trying to figure it out
How could he manage, in himself he had doubt.
Maybe he could find a lady who would agree to live in
He had ask about and the chances were dim.
Some one told him the widows would be after him
He couldn’t forget Lilly for his whole life.

If push came to pull, he might have to take another wife.
How that would up set his children’s life.
That first morning the children got off to school
They were so sad; he didn’t want to mention a new rule.
He gave them oats and toast with milk
Lilly’s oats were as creamy as silk.
He had to learn, that was the way he was built.

School was almost out; he could make it that long.
Summer vacation, they would be on their own.
Bonnie would do her best
Josh and Julie would be hard pressed.
Will found out the gossip was right
Some widow called him about every night.
From other counties, now was that right?

It was a joke, he tried to make light
If he wanted a woman he would court her all right.
It wasn’t on his mind until things got tight.
Bonnie was a very good cook
While she worked, Julie had her nose in a book
Josh didn’t even look.
To clean their rooms had been Lilly’s hard
and fast rule.
Bonnie didn’t try to tell them what to do
Both knew they had chores to.
Will had to call a Come to Jesus sit down
Josh acted silly, trying to be the clown
Will shut him down
He told them they had to help Bonnie.
Julie laughed, thought it was funny.
She never helped, it was always Bonnie.
Will told them Bonnie was in Lilly’s place
Tears started running down her face
She didn’t think house work was her place.

Will ask her just where was her place
She smarted off that she had the prettiest face.
Will told her vanity had no place.
Josh said he was too little to work
His feelings Bonnie had hurt.
Will looked at Bonnie for a retort
Like her Mother she had nothing to report.

She didn’t tell him they wouldn’t pick up their clothes.
Or that Josh used his sleeve to blow his nose.
She couldn’t do the laundry if they
Didn’t bring down their clothes.
Will knew they would keep secrets from him
He didn’t have the knowledge Lilly had of them .


Death In The Family #3

Once again Will found him on the bridge
Watching the clear water wash over the rocks
And boulders.
Lilly had been dead a month, he felt ten years older.
So much he didn’t know about her world.
Of home making and children holder.
He thought he knew his children.
All he knew was what he wanted to know.
That Josh at six was still a baby, went behind
Bonnie every where she had to go.
He had seen them from the barn,
Bonnie was rocking him in Lilly’s chair
On the front porch.
Then later in the day she was helping him
With some plywood build a fort.
Was any one as lucky as he?
To have a daughter grow up so fast, he didn’t see.
Julie would take some work before she came around.
He hated getting after her
Some times she couldn’t be found.
She loved to read, romance, adventure
He would have to keep an eye on her.
Bonnie couldn’t be expected to all ways be there.
Spying on his children was something
He had swore he would never do.
Times had changed, evil was gaining ground.
He could just speak to the lady at the Library
And ask her to advise him on what she checked out.
How else could he do it, it wasn’t as if he had any doubt
He just had to know, had to find out.
It was almost dark; the time change said 8pm
It was only dusky dark
Night would soon follow with that feeling of absolute stark.
He made it ok during the day,
Night time was the hardest time.
Thank goodness the children went quickly to sleep
Before he turned he opened each door for a little peep.
Bonnie was the one who broke his heart
She was trying so hard to do Lilly’s part.
She was always up late in the night
Making sure every thing was just right.
He would keep her in high school, college to
If she liked.
She had lost her Mother; he couldn’t let her lose the rest
Of her life.
Darkness had gathered, he made his way to the house
Bonnie had it locked up so tight he had to use his key.
Nothing could have gotten in even a very small mouse.
He told Bonnie to mind where she kept the key
She showed him a vase on the mantel piece where it would be.
Things happened in the country
The nearest neighbor lived a mile away.
Maybe he should just sell out and move to town
Take a job where ever it was to be found.
The house and farm were worth a good price
He might just talk to some one in real-estate
In a way it would be nice.
He would mention it to Bonnie,
After he thought it over more than twice.
Bonnie was folding clothes in the laundry .
He was glad Lilly had insisted on a washer and dryer
Keeping every ones clothes clean and
put away would be dire.
Tomorrow he would check Josh and Julie’s room
For dirty clothes, some one he had to hire.
Some one to do some house work
Bonnie was too young not to have time enough to read a book.
Bonnie wouldn’t push them, he had found out Josh was a crier .

Death In The Family #4

Will couldn’t believe
Julie hadn’t come home.
She knew by dark she had
To be where she belonged.
He had given her permission
To walk down the road a mile.
To visit and exchange
Books with the Wilson’s.
She was weary of staying
At home and she was lonely.

He knew Bonnie didn’t approve
It just didn’t look like a bad move.
Julie was trust worthy, had nothing
to prove.
Bonnie had called Mrs. Wilson at five
She had left the Wilson’s about four .

That had been more than two hours ago
There was no other place she could go.
There were no houses between them and
The Wilson’s.
Now every one around was on the phone.

Bonnie and Josh tried to remember
What cars had gone by?
There wasn’t much traffic on their road.
Josh couldn’t do any thing but cry.
He said maybe Julie had gone to find Mom.
He cried until there was no place
For the tears to come from.


Bonnie held him and tried to hum.
Will had called the Sheriff about
five o clock.
He came out and they talked a lot.
Bonnie gave him some of Julie’s
school pictures.
What she was wearing, how her hair
was fixed.

How tall, how heavy, a scar
on her right
Thigh from when a cow kicked.
She didn’t have any ID with her.
Had no need for a pocketbook
All she took with her was a book.
They had a cold supper that night
Julie getting lost was not right.
She had been told never to ride
with strangers.
Bonnie couldn’t remember seeing
an automobile
Of any kind.
Then that wasn’t any thing that
would occupy her mind.

She had been in the garden in the back,
Josh had been with her putting green
beans in a sack.
Will had been seeing to some horses in
the back pasture.
The Sheriff left to start the Amber alert
And make copies of the picture.

Will called the radio station .
To get Julie’s disappearance on the
evening news.
The TV station In Charlotte wanted
the same information.
Men and boys from all over the county
Came to start the search with out bounty.

They fanned out and swept the area from
Will’s to the Wilson’s.
They found her book by the bridge where Will went
.When he needed to think.
It was the Wilson’s book, she had started
home was gone in a wink.

The searchers stayed until midnight
Tomorrow Mr. Tucker would bring his
blood hound.
If she was around, she would be found
Will was blaming him self
He should have listened to Bonnie.

Julie could have read a book from the
book shelf.
She went to the Wilson’s every week to
exchange books to read.
There was a spring off the road near
the bridge the trail went back to the
cedar ridge.

Bonnie told them there was a place she may have gone
But she would not have gone alone.
Up behind the spring was the old Cassidy house
Where Grandma and Grandpa lived their life out.
It was dark as pitch up there among the pines
Sometimes one couldn’t see if the sun shines.




Death In The Family #5

Julie Disappears.
Bonnie told Will she and Lilly had walked up to the old house
A week before Lilly died.
Neither of them could imagine living there with any pride.
The porch was very narrow
The steps were giving.
Lilly had said some one would break a leg
Sure as she was living.
They went in and found that someone had the place cleaned up.
On the sideboard was a coffee pot and a cup.
Coffee and canned food stacked on a shelf
Looked as if some one was helping them self.
Bonnie had climbed up to the loft
A bed had been set up with a new mattress clean and soft.
They didn’t make anything of it. Just laughed it off.
Then Lilly died, And Bonnie hadn’t had time for a thought.
Will wanted to start up there right away
The Sheriff convinced him to wait until the light of day.
Some one might be on the spot
and get some one shot.
Will had to agree it would be safer that way
The dog would track if she was up there
She would be found.
Sure as that old dog put his nose to the ground.
Every one went home, would be back at the break of day.
To comb those woods all around
The dog would do his tracking,
He was a pro, never been found lacking.Bonnie,
broken hearted felt so bad for her Dad
A most loving Daddy no child ever had.
He just didn’t know Julie and Josh
Didn’t know that half the time they didn’t even wash.
But that was no time to bring up a petty crime.
Josh had gone to sleep on the floor
Right by Julie’s door.
He had checked to see if she was there
was no sign of her.
Julie would never borrow a book and leave it at the bridge.
He thought she would spend the night in that dark old house
Upon the cedar ridge.
Bet she was frightened half to death
Nothing to make light with.
Julie wasn’t a boy scout or making fire she would know about.
The two of them knew about some one living up there
They went one day on a double dare.
The man had said he would kill whoever came up there
Josh didn’t think what ever the man was, he was a liar.
He had news, some one had seen a stranger up there
He should have told dad,
It was making him feel sick and bad.
Bonnie picked him up and put him in the bed with her
Will shed some tears when he saw them there.
Both of them really did care
He would figure them out. He did swear.
Morning came, it seemed out of no where.
The same men and boys everyone came
Some had put guns in back packs.
They couldn’t go looking until the dog did his track.
He went straight down the road to the bridge.
Made as if he was going on up the ridge.
He circled around and around on and under the bridge.
The straight down the middle of the road to the Wilson’s.
There he tracked her to the house and seemed to listen.
Not finding her in the house, he found another sent
Back to the bridge he went.
This time up the hill to the ridge
So she had come back to the bridge.
Until someone or something caused
her to go up to the ridge.
The dog went straight to the front door.



Death In The Family #6

The dog went to first the front door
and then the back.
All they saw lying there was an old
grass sack.
The Sheriff said he was going in
He called out to find if any one
was there.
Then he called out again
This is the Sheriff of this
county
If anyone is there come on out
and less talk about it.
There was something evil about
that old grass sack.
He decided to go in through
the back.
He pushed on the door, it didn’t
swing back.
It did finally open a crack.
It was dark inside, a good
place to hide.
He had his big flash light.
Some light applied
There was a smell he didn’t
like.
It was like someone died.
He called out “Open the door
you are under arrest
This is private property you can’t
trespass”.
No one answered, no noise was made
A great fear on the Sheriff laid
He kicked some more at the old
sagging door.
It opened a little more
With the flash light better he
could see.
He wished it had not been he.
There was some one here all right
His light shined on her bright.
Julie was lying on the floor.
She was dead, he could tell all
the way from the door.
He turned around and motioned
for Will to come ahead
How in the Hell could he tell
him his daughter was dead?
Will came in a run,
Someone, some fool had give
him a gun.
Some one else would get killed
before this was done.
Probably before the rising of
the sun.
Will went white when he saw
his child.
The look on his face was
animal wild.
She was dead alright, had
been for some time.
What else had been done to
her could have been seen
by the blind.
The other men were coming
up behind.
The Sheriff was afraid,
Will would lose his mind.
The county coroner and
forensic would have to
be called in.
They couldn’t move the
girl until then.
One of the boys took the
message off in a run.
The Sheriff wished he
could get that gun.
The shack looked as if
it had been lived in by
some one.
There were dirty dishes
and the old iron stove
was still warm.
Who ever it was hadn't
been gone long.
The man with the dog set
out in a run
The dog had picked up a
sent from an old shirt.
If he could chase him
down it would save him
some work.
Most of the men and boys
followed the dog.
On the other side of the
ridge was a small community
of the Amish.
They certainly never bothered
any thing, they were honest.
The N.C.B.I. would take over.
Sheriff told Will “They will
join us”.
Will wanted to see his daughter.
The Sheriff had nothing to do
Although he knew not to.
How much could a man in this
situation stand.
Will could hardly see when he
first went in.
He had to look time and again
He saw her little hand balled
up into a fist.
Like she was holding something
in her hand.
Her neck was broken, it was
easy to see.
Her clothes were torn off;
all of her showing so free
“Oh God “He cried “How can
this be?”
He sobbed “who took my Julie
away from me?’
“Julie” He said “He won’t get
away if I
Find him first he won’t live
another day”
The Sheriff knew Will would do
it that way.
What on this earth could he to
this grieving Daddy
Some one had raped his little
girl and took her life away”.


Death In The Family #7

Will couldn’t leave the scene, the bad news to
Bonnie and Josh some one else would have to bring.
Then he saw the Wilson boy in the crowd
Bonnie and he were sweethearts he allowed.
He knew telling them was his place, but he couldn’t
leave his daughters unseeing face.
He went to the boy and ask him if he was well
Could he bring himself Bonnie and Josh to tell.
Mark told him he was o.k..
He didn’t know what to say but he would know
before he reached the bottom of the hill.
He had lied when he said he was well
He also knew the man was living there
And neither did he tell.
He just hoped he would get to see him burn in Hell.
Bonnie and Josh were on the sofa, the look on Mark’s face
made her hold Josh closer.
He told them they had found her in the old Cassidy house.
She had been killed, he didn’t want to be the one to
give details.
He held on to Bonnie through her wales
And held Josh’s hand, he didn’t quiet understand.
He told them she had started for home
When someone or something went mighty wrong.
The dog had found her from her sent.
He found another from an old shirt and off
he and some men and boys went.
Probably over to the Amish settlement
Figuring that was where the man went.
Not that the Amish would give consent
the Sheriff had been great through it all.
Had given the N.C.B.I. a call, forensic were there
and the Medics were the first there but had
to leave for someone in a fire.
They would be back to take care of her.
He ask Bonnie if they had anything to eat,
she said “No”
He told her to go make coffee and cook some
biscuits and meat.
Will would need something strong to drink and eat.
She wondered how he would get through this.
His faith was getting mighty thin
Mark ask her if they shouldn’t call some one in.
She said she didn’t care ,
she could handle what went on here.
He told her that he cared,
her shoulders were to young for all this to bear.
She said there was Uncle Jim, Mothers brother,
she was older than him.
He ask her if she wanted him to make the call
He went hunting with Jim every fall.
He knew the number,
dialed it and it rangThen Jim said hello ,
for a moment Mark couldn’t say a thing.
Jim said what’s going on there any way.
Mark told him about Julie in the best words he could say.
Jim told him to stay with Bonnie and Josh
and he would be there right away
His wife would come to help Bonnie this awful day.


Death In The Family 8
"
The Morning was over, the day was getting away
The preacher was there with a prayer to say.
He was welcome but he had to stay out of the way.
The murdered girls assessment was over, they
Put her on a stretcher, and carried her down
The hill.
Even the wild life was quiet and still
The preacher tried to reason with Will.
It would be wrong for him to kill
He felt the same way they all did fill.
He ask him who would tend his farm and
And children while he was in the
State Prison.
That gave Will pause to think
He couldn’t leave Josh and Bonnie to
release his satisfaction.
Mr. Tucker kept his dog out till dark
He couldn’t follow him, just by his bark.
Tomorrow they would start where they left off.
So far his sent had been enough.
He had been in the Amish settlement.
The men and boys would go tomorrow as he went.
They knew him as an old hunting man
Living off the land.
He had ask to help the women to pick fruit to can
The Amish didn’t trust a stranger with their women.
Ask him to move on and give some one else a helping hand.
Now they to would sleep with windows and doors locked
And if any one had a gun it would be cocked.
Together with the English they were glad to work
Some one of their family might be the next hurt.
They had to get rid of this worlds dirt.
When the men got back to the ridge
The medics had moved the body on a stretcher to the bridge.
No rubber tires could make it over that hillside land
That was why the man felt safe
And they never went near the cave.
The phone had rung all day long.
Some folks just naturally thrived on bad news
They kept asking who had been accused.
When the van drove up in the drive, Bonnie said “Heavens alive
Why did that preacher have to arrive and bring five?”
Ladies from the church, all of them looking for dirt.
Lilly had been gone a month, no one had come by with
so much as a lunch.
Now here they were in a bunch.
They came in gave their condolence and sat down, Bonnie
Was going to talk to daddy about moving to town
.These old gossips wouldn’t be around.
The preacher wanted to go up to the scene
Mark pointed the way through the screen.
It wasn’t far and could be seen.
The Ladies had questions and Bonnie didn’t have answers
Mark would jump up and help her.
The gruesome details he was not going to relate
When the preacher got back he could fill their plate.
Uncle Jim got there, he and his wife was quiet welcome
He made a bee line for Will,
And Aunt Jose looked at the women like she could kill.
One of them said this was like a bad dream
The other said the worse she had ever seen.
Mark stayed close to Bonnie and helped with Josh
Tried to explain the parts he got, had to tell him.
Julie was dead like Mom, and would not be coming home.
That was the first time Josh had been clear
He didn’t understand what he did hear.
He thought she just went up there
To make them worried or give them a scare.
He had listened close to the prayer,
maybe an angel was there.
Standing by to give Julie care,
that’s what he understood from the prayer.
If there was an angel why didn’t she take care?
Why didn’t she fight that man up there?
God wouldn’t have sent her if He didn’t hear
Now was she in God’s care ?
Mark told him he didn’t know about the angels
but he knew God was taking care of Julie up there.
They would every one keep Julie in their prayer


Death In The Family #9

Jim and Will went on the porch
Will had to talk it off.
He told Jim he was the blame,
No, he wasn’t insane.
Bonnie had not wanted her to go.
She was needed in the garden the
green beans were yielding so.
Josh was always under Bonnie’s feet,
she gave him a pail.
And told him to be neat.
Julie was kind of a loner.
Since Lilly died there had been so
much sorrow on her.
Bonnie understood, Julie was good
She loved to read and she could draw,
any face, beat all he ever saw.
Jim talked to him about selling out
He already had it on his mind, with Josh
And Bonnie he would talk it out.
Inside Bonnie just walked the floor,
Seem like she would never rest anymore.
If her and Mom had remembered to tell Dad,
Julie would not be dead
.Then she remembered Julie’s drawing.
She went into Julie’s room, a feeling
of gloom.
Gave her a bad taste
Julie was neat with her things.
Bonnie had given her Mom’s rings
and dress up things.
A locket she wore her self.
Josh wanted a watch that was left.
The desk was locked; she didn’t know
where the key was.
What was in there Julie didn’t want
any one to see?
Bonnie got a nail file and opened
the lock.
her drawings were stacked in a neat block.
Bonnie looked through them, one made her stop
There was a face of the man on the ridge.
Julie must have seen him at the bridge.
Some how he talked her into going to
the ridge.
The pictures she had drawn of him.
One was of the old house where Dad’s
folks used to live.
So she had been up there,
she had to show these to Dad
it might be the best lead they had.
if it just matched the man from the
Amish Settlement.She ran to the porch,
excused herself,
said she had something,
Jim had just walked out
Will looked at the pictures,
he had seen this man
Didn’t know he lived on his land.
Bonnie went on and told him what
she and Lilly had seen the man.
She felt better after coming clean
Will called the Sheriff about what
Bonnie had found.
Will and Jim drove into town
Tomorrow there would be pictures
all around.
And in the county to fence posts bound.
Will would personally take them to
the Amish Settlement.
Another killing would be his
greatest regret.
He would be bound to kill this man
if they met.
Silently he said a prayer
For God to get some one else there.
Before he damned his own soul to hell.
By killing this man who needed to die
so well.
This man had killed his darling Julie.
Tomorrow they would ring the death bell.
Will and Jim went back to the house.
Josh and Bonnie were sleeping.
They were trying to be quiet as a
mouse.
Will knew it would be a long while
before there would be happiness
In his house .



Death In The Family #9

Jim and will went on the porch
Will had to talk it off
He told Jim he was the blame,
No, he wasn’t insane
Bonnie had not wanted her to go
She was needed in the garden the
green beans were yielding so
Josh was always under Bennie’s feet,
she gave him a pail
And told him to be neat
Julie was kind of a loner.
Since Lilly died there had been so
much sorrow on her
Bonnie understood, Julie was good
She loved to read and she could draw,
any face, beat all he ever seen
Jim talked to him about selling out
He already had it on his mind, with Josh
And Bonnie he would talk it out
Inside Bonnie just walked the floor,
Seem like she would never rest anymore
If her and Mom had remembered to tell Dad,
Julie would not be dead.
Then she remembered Julie’s drawing
She went into Julie’s room, a feeling
of gloom
Gave her a bad taste
Julie was neat with her things
Bonnie had given her Mom’s rings
and dress up things
A locket she wore her self
Josh wanted a watch that was left
The desk was locked; she didn’t know
where the key was
What was in there Julie didn’t want
any one to see?
Bonnie got a nail file and opened
the lock
her drawings were stacked in a neat block.
Bonnie looked through them, one mad her stop
There was a face of the man on the ridge
Julie must have seen him at the bridge
Some how he talked her into going to
the ridge
The pictures she had drawn of him.
One was of the old house where Dad’s
folks used to live
so she had been up there,
she had to show these to Dad
it might be the best lead they had
if it just matched the man from the
Amish Settlement.
She ran to the porch,
excused herself,
said she had something,
Jim had just walked out
Will looked at the pictures,
he had seen this man
Didn’t know he lived on his land.
Bonnie went on and told him what
she and Lilly had seen the man.
She felt better after coming clean
Will called the Sheriff about what
Bonnie had found
Will and Jim drove into town
Tomorrow there would be pictures
all over the town.
And in the county all around
Will would personally take them to
the Amish Settlement
Another killing would be his
greatest regret
He would be bound to kill this man
if they met .Silently he said a prayer
For God to get some one else there.
Before he damned his own soul to hell
By killing this man who needed to die
so well.
This man had killed his darling Julie
Tomorrow they would ring the death
bell.
Will and Jim went back to the house
Josh and Bonnie were sleeping
They were trying to be quiet as a
mouse
Will knew it would be a long while
before there would be happiness
In his house

#9 Death In The Family

Will and his brother in law talked until down in the night.
Will had a demon he had to fight.
Jim knew he would be out searching with the first light.
Mark and his brother Rory were taking care of the stock.
Had to keep things going,
his heart and mind on them or not.Neighbors,
he thanked God for the good ones he had.
He had grown up on the place,
known the Wilson’s since he was a lad.
He hoped Bonnie would stick with Mark.
In each others life that had a part.
He was proud of the boy, helping Bonnie.
When he was sick in his own heart.
M ark had told him about seeing the man, he didn’t know what
He would have done, and that was known to no one.
Mark was being too hard on himself.
Bonnie was hurting so bad.
And Josh just a loving little lad.
Will had gone to the bridge that day.
Flowers and notes with pictures left by Julie’s friends
on the bridge they were laid.
For them they were not afraid,
what a difference a death made
Lilly, Lilly, and Will cried in his sleep,
he could see her.
Plain, but she didn’t make a peep.
If she had lived, Julie would still be with them.
He knew she couldn’t come back, out of her misery
her image was as sharp as a tack.
He felt as if she was telling him to take care.
That Julie was in Paradise with her.
It wasn’t unusual for these visions to occur.
Will stayed in bed until first light,
He had dreaded that day with all his might.
Mr. Tucker was there with the houndthe man’s
sent he had found,
Today they take him to every farm around.
What would will do if the man was found?
He was trying to keep his hate down
It had eat him up sense Julie was found.






Death In The Family# 10

Julie’s body was released the next day
to the funeral home with out any delay.
The autopsy gave Will a bad feel.
Looking at her so peaceful and still
with death comes an uncommon chill.
One couldn’t tell she fought for her life.
He had cut her with a hawk bill knife.
She had skin under her nails
and blood that wasn’t hers, the lab tells.
She fought trying to escape;
while alive there was no rape.
She had been violated even in her shape.
That added to Will a greater weight.
Bonnie had taken charge,
she picked out what Julie
would want and didn’t enlarge.
Simple and sweet she looked lying there.
Pink roses on a white casket.
Flowers every where.
The service would be the next day.
Will thought he couldn’t leave her there.
The old preacher would say some simple,
soothing words.
Some of her school friends
wanted to recite The Lord’s Prayer.
One of the songs was “Won’t It Be Wonderful There”.
“In The Garden” by Elvis
And Vince Gill’s” High On That Mountain.
There was no end of song to send her where
She belonged.
One more night and forever gone.
Leaving her family so forlorn.
A man didn’t know when his baby’s were born
that they would go on before.
The tucker dog went out before day light.
Mr. Tucker holding on with all his might.
Boys and men tracking right on his heels.
Couldn’t track him down through Settlements and fields.
Next he would take the dog to town to see if he
could pick up a sent.
No need to go up one hill and down,
the dog would find him if he was around.

Death In The Family 11

Julie’s drawing and the DNA results was all the
Grand jury needed to bind the killer over for trial.
Not a word did he say in court, not even a denial
Herbert A.KA. Doc Dewily.
On the wanted list coast to coast for abusing and
Killing another child.
He was a big man, in overalls and a work shirt.
The face so mean the look of it hurt.
The county was up in arms.
As country people get when a child dies of harm.
They came in from the river bottom and hill side farms.
Some brought rope, some had side arms.
Every truck had a rack of guns over the back window.
One good shot was all it would have took.
Or an Oak branch, a tall tree, and a short rope.
They even picked one in the court House lawn,
down home folks, wanting to have some fun.
The Sheriff was hard pressed to keep the peace.
He called the Governor for help until it did decease.
If a crowd stormed the jail or Court House,
He couldn’t keep the peace.
The people were in turmoil,
some wanted to burn him in lamp oil.
Every other man had a big rope coil.
Julie’s abuse and death had brought the very Devil out.
They sang on the general store porch,
Some one gave out a big rebel shout.If you never heard one,
you can’t know what I am writing about.
A rebel yell goes clean to the bone
it strikes like lightning power, there is no doubt,
Rory Wilson could sure let one out.
The hotel was running over with news people,
A TV man was shooting with a camcorder,
From the Old Church Steeple.
Will was amazed at the out pouring of the people.
Their talk disturbed him; he knew white lightning
was in the mix.
A man drunk on that wasn’t easy to fix.
He sure would get in some good licks.
A week went by before a jury was picked.
There wasn’t a person who didn’t know a lick.
Some Amish agreed to the pick.
That animal could have killed one of theirs just as quick.
The county had to get Dewild a lawyer,
When he tried to get in he couldn’t navigate the recorder
A deputy took both in by a little known door
Tunneled in during the Civil War
The jury, five women, seven men. Was ready for the trial to begin.
A hush fell over the court room, when the prisoner was brought in.
He was shackled to two lawmen.
The Judge read the charges, and the trial set in.
First it was the District Attorney for the state.
And what a grand opening he did make.


Death In The Family
12

The attempt at rape had been kept under wraps.
The DNA was there, no perhaps.
Jim thought Will would collapse.
All the women held handkerchiefs in their laps
all went to awe struck mouths.
The DA took them through the chain of events.
How this man had made himself at home,
In the old Cassidy residence.
How he met Julie, still grieving for Lilly.
Probably tried to make her smile by saying something silly.
Julie probably wondered if the man was dangerous,
and would hurt her really.
Day’s went by and they met at the bridge,
One time he asks her to do some drawing on the ridge.
She may have thought, he won’t hurt me, will he?
Then one day about dusk, she was returning home
had to be there by dark, a must.
Had been down the road about a mile,
to exchange a book,
He showed it around, a Lorie Engalls book.
Left on the bridge.
Before it was found,
she was struck down.
By her sent she was by the Tucker dog found.
He was tracked to but went too far around,
to be brought to ground.
The DA looked at the Defense Lawyer
and said “You can have it now”
The defense lawyer was a young man from the city.
He asks if Doc Dewily had confessed.
Did He?
Had anyone witnessed the crime?
He left off the witness left behind.
Dewily knew that was a bad sign.
He didn’t have any defense of any kind
and there must have been hair in that grass sack he left behind.
All he could do was speak his own mind.
In that respect he could not be kind.
He asks about reasonable doubt,
would that be so hard to find.
The Judge would address the Jury as to what they
could find.
Both lawyers had ended their case.
In the crowd there was not one kind face.
The Jury received their instruction.
Retired to the Jury room to start discussions on their observation.
In one hour the deputy brought a note out.
They had come to a conclusion with out any doubt,
they didn’t understand the sentencing,
didn’t want any way out.
They wanted him to die,
Just didn’t know all about.The Judge cleared the Court room and called the Jury out,
Gave them preinstruction of each charge and what it brought about.
A few minutes they came back out.
The Officer gave the note to the Judge and he read it out.
Guilty of all charges, no room for doubt, no prison where he might some day get out.
Death, restitutions was what they were about.
The spectators were respectful, no rebel shouts.
He would die for his crime, but in court he had never spoke out.
Will and his family were satisfied.
Returned home, put the trial aside.
Slowly the crowd started to depart, a great relief to the Sheriffs heart.
He had been afraid at the start.
Will talked to Bonnie and Josh about selling out,
And moving to town,
Where there would be more people and no memories around.
Bonnie liked the idea of living in town,
But that would mean not having Mark around.
Josh didn’t even like the sound.
He loved the farm, he offered to work and help Bonnie around.
That was in the future.
Bonnie still couldn’t take a step.
It was just too soon for her to make out.
She would try to find some help,
School would soon start and she wouldn’t be left.

Death In The family 14

The Cassidy family had weathered the storm of death,
Their life would never be the same.
Will was still filled with regret;
Blame still filled his mind yet.
Several widows had come to give Bonnie help,
He appreciated it, but he wasn’t ready for a woman
for him self.
Bonnie and Josh were getting ready to go back to school.
Josh made out he didn’t want to go, Will told him 12 years
Was the rule.
Bonnie was used to Lilly helping to choose clothes suitable
But not too plain.
And shoes, gym shoes, loafers and boots,
She was surprised Will over looked the boots.
They were jet black and came up to the knees.
She didn’t even have to say please.
Josh only wanted jeans and tee shirts
Bonnie was taken away by some long skirts.
Even this play didn’t get besmirched.
Will was so glad to see a happy face on his girl
He would have given her the world.
He picked out a bracelet with a real pearl.
A week before school started Will got a late night call.
Uncle Marvin from his family had died due to a fall,
His wife, Aunt Lorena, wanted to come and spend thewinter and fall.
Will told her to come, she would be alone all day but
They would all be home by four, week ends all.
She told him that didn’t matter, was not why she called.
What she wanted was to take care of them all.
She thought fall and winter would be time enough
to make it a permanent call.
She arrived two days later; Will picked her up at the
Airport.
So grateful to have a woman in the house that
didn’t expect to be courted.
She was a pretty woman, with a soft voice,
she could play the piano and sing, and she read
and went to the same church of course.
The children loved her from the first day;
Bonnie helped her put her things away.
It seemed they didn’t have enough time for all they had to say,
Will saw Josh lay up against her one day,
that meant more to him than any thing they might say.
She was so sweet, and work didn’t get in her way.
She laid out her own rules; she would visit often at both schools
the children cleaned their own rooms,
and she never used brooms.
She didn’t believe in spanking, or sitting in time out
Discipline would be talked about.
Aunt Laraine was shortened to Auntie,
She sure made the Cassidy family’s lifeFine and dandy.
Will, did the unheard of and bought her a box of candy.
She shared the box with the children who were handy.
She thought Mark a real dandy,
her advice to Bonnie was to keep him happy
so their love would last ever after ..