Sick of it

Josie had enough of that same old song,

That she was much too young,

To know what was going on.

Something had happened at the hotel.

Jake was yet to return as well.

Miss Bella took her to the stables

To keep her out of the way.

While Ron gloated and napped on the hay.

He pretended to know all the goings-on in BG.

But Josie believed he was just full of baloney.

The sheriff and a lot of other folks,

Entered the hotel.

There were loud voices and had been screaming as well.

Josie had heard what sounded like a gun fire from her room.

But then Bella appeared all too soon.

She made Josie leave the hotel very quick.

The smell of blood in the air made Josie's stomach sick.

But Miss Bella would not elaborate about the sounds or the smell.

As she ushered Josie out the back way of the hotel.

Josie thought it was Rue she heard crying as well.

But Miss Bella wouldn't tell.

After a ride on Blaze,

And mucking out the stalls,

Putting down fresh hay,

Josie was feeling restless indeed.

The thoughts in her head freed.

Not just her fears for Jake's safety.

No longer a child was she.

Now at thirteen,

Josie was a proper lady.

But everyone still treated her with kid gloves.

Decided the things she couldn't handle,

What was too much.

Enough was enough!

And Josephine was sick of it.

But only children threw fits.

She needed to be an adult about this.

Lady Imogen neighed loudly.

Maybe both of them needed to blow off some steam.

Cooped up for far too long it seemed.

She glanced around the stable.

Ron slumbered on.

Miss Bella was nowhere to be found.

Perhaps she'd gone to look for that beau of hers in town?

Whatever the case, Josie saddled Jake's horse lickety-split.

And left the stables before Bella returned to talk her out if it.

Josie did scribble a little note, with a piece of coal on some wood she wrote,

Took Lady Imogen to stretch her hooves some.

All my chores are done.

Be back before the setting sun, Josie.

When the street was clear, Josie urged the horse to run.

She enjoyed the wind in her hair, the feel of the sun.

It felt like freedom, as close as a girl like her could get.

And Lady Imogen seemed to also enjoy it.

Both of them had been caged more than ever of late.

It felt amazing to break away.

She was still learning these parts.

So following the river was a good start.

It would also lead her back to BG.

On the way out of town,

She looked for that ship Liberty.

But the Liberty Bell was no longer docked in town.

Thoughts of Jhonny brought a frown.

At times he was almost civilized it seemed.

But other time, that boy made her want to scream!

The girls in her class giggled and called him handsome as can be, made flower chains and had pretend weddings, as his bride to be.

But Josie never joined in their silly games. That boy brought a tickle to her stomach, but he also drove her insane.

He was arrogant and boastful,

Made her blush.

But he also gave her heart quite the rush.

After their dance at the Christmas gala,

Gwen teased Josie about a crush.

As if Josephine was sweet on Johnny, please,

They were just friends,

Even if Gwen liked to tease.

Boys had it easy alright.

No one told them they couldn't be out at night.

They could come and go as they pleased.

Weren't expected to cook, clean, and raise the family

Weren't raised to be meek and obey.

Josie hated that things were this way.

She missed the circus life.

Traveling around, staying up all night.

Meeting new people and trying new things.

Of course, Jacob has always kept her on a tight string.

Was overprotective and liked to boss her this way and that.

But he always had her back.

She thought of Rue,

Who owned her own business,

And did what she wanted too.

Josie wanted to be like Rue

Someday, in her own life, have all the say.

Strong, independent, smart to boot.

Josie admired all those things about Rue.

Josie rode along the river as late morning turned into afternoon.

She wasn't ready to go back so soon.

She liked being alone with her thoughts,

Not being told what to do.

She dismounted Lady Imogen,

For a drink and a quick rest.

Soon they'd have to turn back,

To make it home before sunset.

Something caught Josie's eye upstream as she filled her canteen.

She walked a bit closer and squinted her eyes,

It was Jhonny's ship she spied,

Much to her surprise.

Why it was it was docked far out here, was unclear.

Why not pay a visit?

What could it hurt?

Maybe Jhonny could give her the dirt. Maybe he'd knew what was going on in BG.

He was certainly allowed more responsibility than she.

Jhonny wasn't treated like a child underfoot in the way.

His dirty jokes and arrogance,

Would be a small price to pay

To find out what she needed to know.

Heck, maybe he even knew something about Jake and Brandy too.

Josie mounted the horse again.

And rode for the ship,

Docked just around the bend.

But the closer she got; her stomach got tight.

Josie got the feeling; something just wasn't quite right.

There was a man with a gun standing on the pier,

He aimed it at two men who struggled to roll a barrel of beer, up the ramp and onto the ship.

A man with the gun screamed to "Get on with it! We ain't got all day! Or I'll put a bullet in your head and grab another crewman in your stead! You sorry, lazy sons of whores!"

Josie didn't want to hear anymore. More barrels lay on the shore. Yet to be loaded while the man swore.

Why would the crew be treated this way? Josie wasn't aware of the ship having slaves. This felt wrong indeed. She tried to slip back into the trees. Hoping not to be seen.

Maybe she could ride back to town. Tell the sheriff what she'd found?

Her heart pounded harder in her chest. Suddenly another man yelled to her from the deck.

This one was also holding a gun.

Josie got the urge to make the horse run.

But she was soon staring down the barrel of two guns.