Lewis Sawyer has had to live a hard life but things were changing now. The government still had the Indian bounty. If a Indian was found living on white man's land, the government paid a $25 per head bounty. There was 3 of them no good injuns and Lewis was determined to collect it.
Lewis was heading to Waynesville to notify the authorities about his find. It had happened on the night of Old Lady Hubbard's 100th. He was seating next to the door listening to the music when he saw the teenage girl walk over to greet her mother and grandmother. People were talking to them like they was white folks. Did no one know about the injun bounty? He watched them as the 2 women talked to Old lady Hubbard and others. They did not stay long as the grandmother Treadaway tired easy at her age. Checking around, Lewis found out that they were called the Treadaways and lived a few miles down they path behind Reuben Beasley's house. Lewis kept quiet about the bounty that night but at first light he set out for the authorities to report them outlaws and get his right reward!
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Mary Minerva had finished her morning chores and was sitting in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother having Sunday prayers and study.
All three heard the horses and wagon pulling towards their house. After all of these years of living here so peaceful they didn't think for a second of what was coming their way. "Mom there are soldiers out there" May Minerva whispered to her Mom.
"Mary Minerva I want you to walk towards the barn while I talk to them and ring the bell loud and hard"
Martha Threadaway walked out of their small house and talked to the head solider.
"Mam You know why we are here. You aren't supposed to be here. How many of you are there?
"My Mother and daughter and myself"
The barn bell rang clear and loud. Within minutes Reuben Beasley and 2 of his sons where there and they were followed by Reuben Lindsay and his sons Jim and William.
The men spoke with the solider but there was no mistaking the Treadaways were full blooded Indians. That they have lived here for so long without being spotted the lieutenant was surprised. Little did he know that warning was going out all across the area so hopefully no others will be taken.
The Treadaways were able to take their personal belongings with them. As the wagon was pulling away with The family, Harriet Lindsay rode up full force on horse back.
Harriet's face was wet from the tears streaming down her face. When the lieutenant saw Harriet jump into the wagon to hold the teenage indian girl , he stopped. For even he could see the pain in the girls eyes.
"We have to go, Harriet, there is no way around it." Mary Minerva was removing her bracelet" I want you to keep this bracelet and remember us. I am Indian and proud of it and this Indian Bracelet will be a reminder of how wrong Indians are still being treated.
Whistling Jim pulled his sister out of the wagon. "It is time Harriet."
The Beasleys and Lindsays waved to their neighbors. They returned to tell Julia Hubbards that the Treadaways were gone.
Julia remembered back to the time her husband John and other neighbors were rushing into the woods and mountains to help set up places for the Indian neighbors to hide.
NOTE: Mary Minerva’s bracelet is still in the hands of our family.(5 generations later)
