Free The Cogan Legend by R. E. Miller

their fears.
    Â Both girls shook their heads no.  They did get out and stretch but stayed close to Lewey.
    As they looked around they saw a two-story cabin in a terrible state of disrepair not fit for anyone to live in.  It was about eight feet by eight feet square; next to the cabin was a well and a dilapidated stable with hay and a grain box.  They watched Poll Soll as he dipped water from the well and took oats from the grain box.  He was a muscular man but not very tall, and he walked with a crippled left leg that bent with each step.
    â€œWho owns this place?” Lewey asked the second man.
    â€œI do, but Poll Soll lives here and I live up the road apiece.”
    As if anxious to talk, the man continued, “Poll Soll ain’t right.”  He touched a finger to his forehead.  “He’s part Indian, and when he was a boy, he and someone else were playing with an axe.”  He made a grimace.  “Poll got hurt, and he ain’t been the same since.”  
    Curious, Lewey asked, “Can he speak?”
    â€œHe doesn’t talk very often, but he can,” was the response.
    Ann noticed Poll Soll never moving his head or eyes as he stared at her.  She drew back beside Rachel who whispered, “He frightens me; let’s get back into the coach.”
    The stranger asked Lewey, “What brings you to these parts?”
    Lewey responded, “We’re heading to Sunbury on business.”  Lewey hid the truth so as not to reveal more information than needed.  “Can you tell me how far it is to an inn?”
    Pointing his finger the stranger informed him, “There are two inns close by, one north in the village of Herndon roughly two miles and another south along the river to Dalmatia also about two miles.”  
    The girls were relieved and happy hearing that news.  Poll Soll completed feeding the horses as Lewey paid the man.  He climbed into the cab, tugged on the reins and they were off.  
    The tall stranger sneered as the coach disappeared, “Beautiful coach and beautiful girls.” He remarked to Poll Soll.
    Ann shuddered as the coach drove away from the livery.  “Did you ever see anyone so ugly?”  
    Rachel agreed, “Even on the docks I never saw anyone so horrible.  The worst looking teeth I ever saw, disgusting and rotten, and that big scar on his cheek! I could smell both of them.”  
    The sun’s setting rays again hit the coach and Lewey was glad to be off of the Cogan Road.  They were all relieved to be leaving that horrible place.  As the trip progressed the discussion continued about the two men.  
    Rachel looked at Ann.  “The crippled man just stared at you the entire time.”
    â€œI know!  It made me uneasy; they are both scary people.  I hope we never see them again.”  Ann said adamantly.
    Lewey had the team in a trot as darkness quickly approached.  All three were exhausted and hungry as they pulled in front of the inn at Herndon.  After freshening up they met in the dining room.  Sitting at the table they couldn’t believe their eyes.  The big stranger from the Cogan came into the tavern, tipped his hat and nodded as he walked across the room.  Lewey politely nodded back but the girls didn’t acknowledge him.  
    â€œWe need to leave early in the morning,” Lewey said to the girls. “We should be able to make Sunbury by noon.”
    For the first time in his memory Lewey was nervous and could hardly sleep.  He was unable to stop thinking about the encounter in the Cogan.  

  
CHAPTER 6
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    By noon they were approaching Sunbury and in the distance they could see smoke from the chimneys.  Excitement started building as they entered the main street and saw how large the town appeared.  The ride through the streets came to an abrupt end as they pulled in front of a large, three-story brick