J W Throgmorton

Duncan (Green River) J W Throgmorton

2010: The truck's occupants, newlyweds Paul and Vanessa Duncan are at full alert; they're on the lookout for other vehicles. "There's a car coming," said Vanessa, the dread in her voice palpable. "I see it, Sweetie." Paul downshifted; he glanced at the dashboard to confirm the truck was still in four-wheel-high-gear. Like a wolf prowling its territory, a black limo filled with men whose stares conveyed evil crept from the darkness into the dim light of the street crossing. As the vehicle passed, the driver's side window lowered, and the newlyweds saw the malevolence in the driver's dark piercing eyes. He looked first at Paul, and then Vanessa. When the limo's brake lights brighten, Paul instantly knew they were in danger. "Hang on," he yelled and stomped the gas. Before the limousine could fully stop, Paul's truck had leapt through the intersection. "Oh, Paul ...," she cried. "What're we going to do?" Her eyes wide with fear, Vanessa looked to him for reassurance. "Just hang on, Sweetie. It'll be okay--I promise." With his words, Vanessa belted in, clutched the handle above the door, squeezed her eyes shut, and began to pray .... Near the end of their first year of marriage, Paul and Vanessa had a son, James Aaron Duncan. Who in time, James grew and married Alexandria, the daughter of Jason and Audrey O'Sullivan. James and Alexandria also had a male child and they named him Joshua Aaron. Over the forty plus year period, since its establishment, the Compound grew and became prosperous ?. 2050: As they neared Green River, Buck's ears perked forward, he hesitated shying away from the trial. Duncan reined him in, bent, and patted his neck to calm the horse, "Easy now, quiet boy it's alright." Focused ahead, Duncan scanned the trail with minute detail and eventually spotted a man poorly concealed in the bushes near to the road. Casually, he passed his hand across his saddle horn and loosed the rawhide keeper loop from the Ruger's hammer. Erect in the saddle and ready for action, Duncan said, "Mister, you'd better come out from behind those bushes with your hands empty and where I can see 'em." A man, in tattered clothes held together by sweat and dirt cautiously stepped from the brush with raised hands. "I ain't goin' back, so shoot if ya gonna." The man fell to his knees, exhausted, but his expression shone with defiance. Confused, Duncan scanned the trail for others, but Buck remained calm, and he saw no one but the man. He studied the man for several seconds not sure of what to make of the scene, Duncan said, "Mister, you're free to go wherever you wish." He shook his head with mild amazement, and added, "And I don't plan on shooting you unless you force me. The man lowered his hands, and wiped his moisture-filled eyes with a torn flap of material from his shirt. Duncan watched him stare closer; he asked, "You don't work for the mines?" "No, Sir, I don't," said Duncan promptly. "I left Hayden five days back, and I'm headed to Green River to trade for salt." ....