"I don't think we should be here." Kaplan said aloud.

  “We need to leave here Judge. This was a mistake to come this far…

  Judge Nagy slapped the spit from Kaplan’s mouth. Staggering her enough to step backwards. It didn't hurt as it was humiliating. Nagy has that effect on people when he is exposed to public humiliation. The penalty is much greater when its in front of his own kin.

  "DADDY!" Stop it." Abby yelled. She was spared from her father's ire. None of the judge's men dared to intervene. They would quickly catch a bullet from Pope. The right hand man that never left Nagy's side.

  "I don't tolerate back talk young lady. Nagy said aloud to Kaplan. Rubbing his delicates hands. No one outside of the judge's household would guess he is an accomplished taxidermist. His skills improved as his hands grew steadier with age. And much practice. It was Abby, the only person he showed a gentle hand towards. Her and the times he is pulling the hangman's noose.”

  “They all flenched from the abrupt howl of cheers from the fight outside. The front door rattled from what felt like pressure coming from a hard collision. The thud of flesh smacking on the heavy wooden door. Rattled everyone in the cramped house.Abby heard Corris Lee grunt. He had been slammed against the door. Brutally.”

  “That hurt.” I said to myself. I could hear the Seminole chants echoing through the landscape. I watched Bonehawk raise his arms in short celebration. Beating his chest in an angry display like a large gorilla. He held his hatchet expertly as he twirled in a tight chopping motions. Keeping me on my backfoot. He wasn't aiming to kill me. But to send a message.”

  “It appears I misjudged the young lion’s fighting decision. He wanted his blade to taste my flesh. Leave it to Judge Nagy to make the kind of enemies that I used to call friends over the years. I knew right then I needed to make some serious adjustments. Fighting the massive Seminole head on wasn't the brightest of moves I could make. Or was it?”

  “The young man is talented with his hatchet. It spun. It dipped. It came within inches of my face. The young Seminole wanted to put a permanent scar on me. He wanted to prove a point. I wasn't going to let him. Call it survival or ego but as a Reclaimer I couldn't let that happen. The name carried with it a certain amount of prestige that I am prepared to defend to my death if need be. That is the kinda fight this had escalated to. He brought the hatchet and I am bringing ramping up the stakes.”

  “My first and only priority is the hatchet. Bonehawk’s young. His experience with the weapon doesn't have years of use. He knew the basic. He knew a couple of tricks I’m sure. But he didn't have the age to know what that weapon can truly do in a master’s hands. That’s to my advantage. He swung the hatchet through the air. It whisked by my cheek. I had pulled my head back to avoid the nasty scar that it would have made. He followed up with a a powerful knee. It hit me hard in the ribs. I didn't give up ground. He then feinted uppercut with the hatchet. Then brought his powerfully built leg up and hit with me with a wicked front kick. That blasted the wind from my chest. It was pure instinct that I swung and caught Bonehawk across the nose with a left hook to the jaw. That wobbled him back. Even a glancing blow with my strength got his attention. Good. His gorilla pounding didn't have a second round. We both recovered. Circling each other in the mud. The big Seminole was thinking. I could see his eyes looking me over. From head to toe. Gripping his hatchet in one hand. His other hand was open. The clip to the jaw got him on the backfoot now. It wouldn't last long. Youthful anger would soon read it's ugly head. It had to. He had an audience he needed to impress. I didn't. He had a reputation to build. I already have one. He had to act or his people would start to doubt his decision to take me on. They would start wondering if he started to faulter in his initial bravado. He needed to show them he was still the man they came to kill Judge Nagy with. That would benefit me greatly.”

  “Bonehawk swung his hatchet in a wide arc. Forcing me to lean backwards. Overextending myself. I felt a powerful blow to my midsection. A fist to my ribs that felt like a blacksmith's hammer on an anvil.”

  “When I gasped to draw in air, my lungs burned. Like they were dowsed in lamp oil and set ablaze. I broke my own cardinal rule. I launched a nasty roundhouse that had the big man stumble. But not far. He kept that hatchet slicing through the air to keep me honest. Another kick to stomach threatened to double me over but sheer willpower kept me upright. It wasn't because I wasn't hurt. I sure as hell was. I just couldn't afford to give in to it. A little trick I learned was energy management in a fight.”

  “As long as I stalked the Red Mesa’s high plains. Living off the land for fifteen years. I had to learn to manage my energy. Long hunts with little payout would have made me easy pickings for a half way skilled predator. I learned to control my output. My hunger. I tempered my rage to keep my prey drive under submission.”

  “That natural, inherent desire in carnivores, to hunt and chase down what's in their food chain. A deep-seated instinct rooted in history, essential for survival in the wild. Humans had a much stronger pusher. Self-preservation and a body made to traverse a multitude of environments. What we lacked in physical advantages like claws and fangs. God gave us a superior leg up to keep us at the top of the food chain. Our brain. We are thinking creatures first and foremost.”

  “Our mind and opposable thumbs. Cain killed Abel when he with both. Feeling the grit of stone in his hand. Soon accompanied by the thick, warm viscus property of his brother’s blood. Admittingly might have given him a rush. To satisfy his basest of urges. Emotions are next on the Achilles heel of man. I needed to watch my own as the young lion did everything he could to dispatch me quickly without wasting much energy. But he was. Wasting energy in the process. Bonehawk’s goal gave him a terrible furnace. A strong motivation to reach his true target. Judge Nagy. My Abby...”

  “The kid is cockstrong. Youthful vigor strengthened his body. His bones were heavy. Robust. I wasn't going to out muscle him and win the respect of the war party. To win I needed to break the young chief to be. I needed to make Bonehawk hurt. I needed him uncomfortable. Young Bonehawk is renown for his power. We weighed the same but his body showed it more. His body was thicker. His reflexes sharper. He had my spring in his step. What was the best way to beat vibrant youth?”

  “I remembered a lesson from Abby years ago.”

  “What's the word of the day?

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Acumen”

  “What's that mean?”

  “The ability to make sound judgments and quick decisions. It includes, intelligence, astuteness, and discernment. Your wit, and perception play a vital role as well.”

  How does a little girl know so much?

  What's the word of the day again? Abby laughed at me. She was right. Perception. What was I seeing. They are people of the earth. They want to see the natural. I couldn't win by outlasting. Him. I wouldn't. Luck sometimes had her way in a straight up fight. A slip here. A second thought there. That's all it took. I needed to use my experience. My acumen to beat the bull and win the crowd. Like the gladiators of Rome did.”

  He trusted his strength and skills with his hatchet. It was evident when he didn't hesitate to display his lethal talent with a hatchet. Acumen. Thank you for that word Abby. The Nagy's believed wholeheartedly in high education. At seven years old Abby was reading better than her father. Acumen. I really struggled with that word.

  ~ Flashback ~Corris:Eckumen?

  Abby: (laughing playfully)No. A C U M E N.

  Corris: Instincts?

  Abby: Yes, kinda like that but for people. Like me and you.Acumen is like being super good at figuring stuff out really fast. Like, if you're playing a game and you always know the best move to win, that means you have acumen! It's like a smart superpower in your brain that helps you make good choices quickly. Grown-ups use it for big jobs, but kids can have it too—like when you're really good at solving puzzles.

  ~ Flashback Ended ~

  “Abby is still taking me to task. I didn't see it before but Bonehawk didn't lean into his weight. The young chief outweighed me easy by 70lbs of Seminole muscle. But he didn't commit. Bonehawk chose to kick instead. Twice. He trusted his strength. But not the blade? So I called on horse power and gravity. Much like a thirsty man, parched from a 3 day ride. He went to the well one too many times. I needed to make him pay. Pay dearly. I did exactly that.”

  “Nagy watched on with his gunmen I am sure. Abby's blue eyes would have been wide with concern. She has never seen me hurt. Not like this. By a menacing well skilled, Indigenous wild eyed warrior. A deadly combination... So I waited for Bonehawk to drink deep from the well again. He swung the hatchet to deliver a counter kick. I closed the distance. I Lunged forwad. To press my advantage. He squinted. His powerful thighs bulged with explosive power. Moving forward with bad intentions. He expected me to retreat backwards. Become defensive where he can exploit the slick muddy ground under my bare feet. Bonehawk needed me to create space. I don't make space. My options were few. Each with a trade off. At this point in the fight. To protect Abby and the judge's band of lawmen. I needed to make a statement. I had to mark my door with blood like God commanded the Israelites. All that remained inside would be safe from the wrath to come.

  “I needed to become wrath.”

  “Bonehawk didn't make his second stride when I stepped forward. Stomping on his planted foot. Breaking those little bones people take for granted. Like Bonehawk. In one action I nullifed his weight advantage. Hard to wield a weapon that needs a stable base. When you can't bear down on your own weight. I then brought my forearm up. Attacking the hatchet's handle. Breaking the head from its body. I didn't stop there. I pushed through the target. My elbow crashed into Bonehawk's face. Dead center in the face. Snapping his head back Full stop. His momentum kept falling forward. His body was already limp. He was stone cold unconscious.

  The Seminoles air drained from their lungs. Replacing the raucous cheers is the sound of only heavy rain. When my forearm smashed into Bonehawk's face. All bravado vanished from their eyes like the Philistines did at David at the slaying of Goliath. Thunder robbed them of hearing the limp, unconscious body of the mighty Bonehawk crash in the mud.Silence reigned and I savored a flavorless victory. No one won today except Judge Nagy. I allowed his people to come pick their big boy up from being face planted in the mud. When one of the Seminole’s reached down for the hatchet head. I was faster.It stays." I said when our eyes met. Gone was their fighting spirit. Seeing their giant sleeping in nature's soup changed their entire disposition. They didn't want anymore. That would come later.

  I rung my arms out from the rain sticking to me like molasses. Shift storms are very much rolling humidity with thunder and lighting. It sticks with you long after it has shown its face. Much like the consequences for what transpired today. Thunder again echoed the sentiment.

  My body hurt as I walked back into my home. I didn’t want to see Nagy’s face or smell the odor of his men. I didn’t like the feeling that I had fought for them. It was for my Little Wolf that I championed for. They would have harmed my girl for what Judge Nagy had always done to their people. I slammed the hatchet head in the center of my door before entering. A symbol. As I closed the door behind me, I stretched my arms. Pulling wood and bone splinters from my forearm. Pope watched Abby walk up to me. Grabbing a blanket from my hand made chair. He looked to Nagy and with a head shake, Pope never moved.

  Abby handed me a blanket to dry off. Her striking eyes smiled when her lips didn’t. Some of her innocence remained. I expected to hear Judge Nagy congratulate me and my instincts have never steered me wrong. The real question is how much would he lay on the praise.

  "Marvelous, like the son I always wanted. You defended your family and you made your point. You have a right to this family as much as ..." I cut Nagy off when I saw the bruise on Kaplan’s face. Her tan almost hid the blemish. Almost.

  "Is this your work?" I pointed.

  "Corris Lee, let this go." Pope said. His hand gripped on his double barrel shotgun. I did notice the hammer’s weren't engaged.

  "I asked you a question Nagy? Is this your work?" I again looked at the bruise. Deepening on her cheek. Kaplan attempted to step in-between us. I didn't stop her. Her hand was near her walnut handled pistol. She wore with her sharpshooters belt with fast draw holsters. Kaplan could skin that Colt in a blink of an eye. I could too. Faster.

  I beat her to the six-iron. My adrenaline stores gave me the edge. The texture melded with my tight grip. My thumb cocked the hammer back with a clean click. Before Pope and the other boys could draw down on me. The business end of Kaplan's gun froze them in place when I aimed it at the Judge. The tension in the room made it hard to breath. Choking like sitting in a chimney. The acrid stench of fear and anticipation filled the room. The familiar fragrance in between fight or flight. My living room didn't afford for the latter. This will play out one way. My way...

  "You lay another hand on a woman again Bill and I swear to God. I'll solve all of Red Mesa's ills."

  Silence had become the currency of the day. Buying time for contemplation before all our eyes are closed this day. Judge Nagy gestured for his boys to lower the metal. His eyes never leaving mine. Nagy's smart. Very smart. As the sweat beaded on his brow. I saw his mouth moving but couldn't quite make out what he was saying. My world had shrunk down to the size of a silver dollar.

  "Easy now son." Nagy said.

  "Last I checked my daddy had skin like mine. You ain't him.” I reminded him. I hated when he tried to use that word with me.

  "Fair enough. You made your point. I allowed my ego to act against my love as a parent."

  “I flipped the gun back to Kaplan. She looked to the Judge who nodded approval for her to take her weapon back. Feeling embarrassed. Her dark, curly hair hid a smirk. Seeing the Judge get a taste of what it means to not be the biggest dog in the room stunned his crew. "So this is the man that killed Caliban...I thought he would've been bigger." She whispered to herself.

  "Good hardware you got here Billy Trigger." I said spinning it back to her. Handle first.

  “I left them all in the main room as I walked into my bedroom. Slamming the door behind me.”