feeling that I already knew where the third man was. I turned back around and he was standing in the middle of the road, blocking my way forward. I felt overcome with fear and my body was bathed in a sudden rush of sweat. I looked all around, desperately searching for a way out. The road had narrowed at this point and there was a thicket to one side and a steep drop-off to the other. Theyâd chosen the spot wisely.
âDonât even think about dropping off the side. Itâs forty feet down to the water,â one of them yelled. They were closing in on me from both directions.
âDonât do anything stupid, kid. All we want is our money.â
âThe money you cheated out of us,â added the third. Fighting them wasnât going to work. Two of them were taller than me and all three outweighed me. If I could only get by them there was no way theyâd ever catch me. I had to somehow talk my way past them.
âYou ⦠you can have your money.â
âWe know we can have our money!â Angus laughed. They were now right on top of me. I turned sideways so I could see them coming at me from both sides.
âBut we figure we deserve a little more than just our money after what you did ⦠making us come all this way ⦠cheating us like you did!â Angus growled.
Two of them, one from each side, sprang out at me, grabbing me by both arms. I tried to struggle but they held me firmly. Angus stood directly in front of me with a ugly, sickening smile on his face.
âWeâre going to take it outta your hide, kid. Teach you to cheat us like you did!â
Chapter Eight
âT HIS DOESNâT SEEM LIKE a fair fight to me,â came a voice from the shadows at the side of the road.
Held between the two men I turned as best I could toward the voice, as did the three of them. My mouth almost dropped to the ground as Mr. Bell stepped out from among the thick shrubs lining the road. They released me and stepped back. I rubbed one arm, which was stinging badly from where Iâd been grabbed so roughly.
âWe werenât doing anythingââ Angus started to say. âI know exactly what you were about to do. Iâm an old man, but my eyes and ears still work fine,â Mr. Bell said.
âWe didnât mean any harm, we were justââ Angus began again.
âAnd how do you figure the three of you whaling away at this lad wouldnât do him any harm? Can you answer that question for me?â
There was no response, but they still looked very angry.
âAnd there are three of you to the one of him. Is that the way you were raised, to have no sense of fair play? Well, what would your father have to say about that, Angus?â
âMy father would say a man should stand up for himself when somebody takes away his money,â Angus barked angrily. The other two nodded in agreement.
âAnd this lad, how did he take your money?â Bell asked.
âIn cards. He took our money playing poker,â one of the others answered.
âAye, poker. I thought you barely knew the game, William,â Bell said, looking directly at me. He turned back to the men. âAnd you think that he somehow cheated you, is that correct?â
They all grumbled agreement with his question.
âAnd how exactly did he cheat you?â
There was more mumbling, but nobody offered an answer right away. I almost laughed. These three hadnât noticed anything.
âWell,â Angus said, âwe didnât exactly see how he did it, but he must have ⦠we all lost a lot of money.â
âI see,â Bell said, nodding his head and stroking his beard with one hand. âAnd did you consider that perhaps youâre all just terrible card players?â
âIâm a good player!â Angus protested.
âWell, Iâve never seen you play, lad, so I suppose I canât disagree ... although I have had you working up at Beinn Bhreagh
âDonât even think about dropping off the side. Itâs forty feet down to the water,â one of them yelled. They were closing in on me from both directions.
âDonât do anything stupid, kid. All we want is our money.â
âThe money you cheated out of us,â added the third. Fighting them wasnât going to work. Two of them were taller than me and all three outweighed me. If I could only get by them there was no way theyâd ever catch me. I had to somehow talk my way past them.
âYou ⦠you can have your money.â
âWe know we can have our money!â Angus laughed. They were now right on top of me. I turned sideways so I could see them coming at me from both sides.
âBut we figure we deserve a little more than just our money after what you did ⦠making us come all this way ⦠cheating us like you did!â Angus growled.
Two of them, one from each side, sprang out at me, grabbing me by both arms. I tried to struggle but they held me firmly. Angus stood directly in front of me with a ugly, sickening smile on his face.
âWeâre going to take it outta your hide, kid. Teach you to cheat us like you did!â
Chapter Eight
âT HIS DOESNâT SEEM LIKE a fair fight to me,â came a voice from the shadows at the side of the road.
Held between the two men I turned as best I could toward the voice, as did the three of them. My mouth almost dropped to the ground as Mr. Bell stepped out from among the thick shrubs lining the road. They released me and stepped back. I rubbed one arm, which was stinging badly from where Iâd been grabbed so roughly.
âWe werenât doing anythingââ Angus started to say. âI know exactly what you were about to do. Iâm an old man, but my eyes and ears still work fine,â Mr. Bell said.
âWe didnât mean any harm, we were justââ Angus began again.
âAnd how do you figure the three of you whaling away at this lad wouldnât do him any harm? Can you answer that question for me?â
There was no response, but they still looked very angry.
âAnd there are three of you to the one of him. Is that the way you were raised, to have no sense of fair play? Well, what would your father have to say about that, Angus?â
âMy father would say a man should stand up for himself when somebody takes away his money,â Angus barked angrily. The other two nodded in agreement.
âAnd this lad, how did he take your money?â Bell asked.
âIn cards. He took our money playing poker,â one of the others answered.
âAye, poker. I thought you barely knew the game, William,â Bell said, looking directly at me. He turned back to the men. âAnd you think that he somehow cheated you, is that correct?â
They all grumbled agreement with his question.
âAnd how exactly did he cheat you?â
There was more mumbling, but nobody offered an answer right away. I almost laughed. These three hadnât noticed anything.
âWell,â Angus said, âwe didnât exactly see how he did it, but he must have ⦠we all lost a lot of money.â
âI see,â Bell said, nodding his head and stroking his beard with one hand. âAnd did you consider that perhaps youâre all just terrible card players?â
âIâm a good player!â Angus protested.
âWell, Iâve never seen you play, lad, so I suppose I canât disagree ... although I have had you working up at Beinn Bhreagh
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