Sunday, August 28, 1910
"So you actually got to meet Vic Willis?"
asked Brian as he walked down the street.
"Uh-huh,"
nodded Jake in reply.
"He came to Billings for the fair. He gave a speech and then threw some balls. My dad likes baseball so we ate dinner with him."
Brian stopped. "You ate dinner with Vic Willis, starting pitcher, of the Pittsburgh Pirates?"
"Yeah. He was real tall. We ate spaghetti at this Italian restaurant. He could pitch a swooping curve ball. It would always drop at the last second. I tried to hit it 10 times and every time I swung it'd always be low. He said that if I watched his wind-up more carefully like 'Wahoo Sam' Crawford then I'd be sure to hit it out of the park."
They boys passed the livery headed towards the park. 
"I can't believe that! You actually got hitting advice from Vic Willis? You are amazing! I'd give a year's allowance just to meet the guy and you...."
"Let me go!"
they heard a girl say forcefully.
The boys stopped.
They heard another boy say, "I'll let you go if you give me a kiss."
Jake and Brian ran around the other side of the Feed 'n Grain store. It was closed on Sunday's. 
"You're hurting my wrist,"
said a girl about thirteen-years-old with brown hair in curls. She was terrified and on the verge of tears.
"That's Henry Tyler. He's the meanest boy in town. I don't know what he's doing but we'd best just leave and...."
Jake stepped up. "Let her go."
Henry turned to Jake. He kept up the pressure on the girls' left wrist. He chuckled, "Who are you?"
"I'm Jake Watson. You're letting go of her, right now."
Henry smirked as he salivated over the frightened girl. 
Jake did not reply verbally. He walked over and kicked Henry in the shin.
The shock of the matter forced Henry to release the girl. Jake stepped back.
Henry growled, "Are you crazy? Don't you know who I am?"
Henry grabbed Jake by the collar.
Jake nodded. "You're Henry Tyler. My cousin Lynn told me all about you. We're not afraid of…" when Jake turned, he noticed that Brain had left. Jake mumbled, "Ok, that's not good."
"Did your cousin mention that I've been in jail?"
"She did: but I'm still going to stop you from hurting that girl!"
The young girl started to run away but she stopped and hid behind the corner of the building to watch what was happening.
He tossed Jake like a ragdoll against the rear wall of the store.
Jake said, "You let her go. This is over with as far as I'm concerned. Henry, let's just call it a day."
Henry pushed him to the ground.
"Is Kimberly you're girlfriend?"
"No. I only talked to her a couple of times."
Henry kicked at Jake's face he dodged him. Jake tried to stand up.
"Then why don't you mind your own business?"
Jake stood up. "I am minding my own business. I'm a man. Kimberly Buchanan is a woman. I'm standing up for her. That's what I'm supposed to do."
Henry pushed Jake to the ground. He scoffed, "You ain't havin' much luck at standin' so far."
Jake tried to stand up again. Henry kicked him in the right knee before he could get up. He winced in pain as he fell.
"I'll make you a deal. If Kimberly gives me a kiss, I won't beat you to a pulp." He pushed Jake over on his side.
Kimberly moaned, "Henry?" He turned around. "Please, don't hurt him. I'll give you a kiss. Just let him go!"
"No!" Jake shook his head. "Kimberly, don't give in to him!"
Henry turned back around. Jake, once again, was trying to stand up. He pushed him back down.
"Kimberly, go home. This is a matter between Henry and I."
Jake tried to stand up; Henry shoved him.
"Henry!" barked Julius Walsdorf. He froze and slowly turned around.
"Kimberly?" asked the policeman. "Is anything amiss?" Brian was standing with him.
She nervously shook her head, no.
Julius asked softly, "Did Henry... touch you?"
She gulped and shook her head. 
Julius glared at Henry. He turned back to Kimberly. "Sweetheart, you didn't do anything wrong. Do you remember what I told the girls at the Ladies' Day at church? If this boy or any other boy tries to do something he shouldn't then you have an obligation to let me or some other adult know about it. Do you understand?"
She nodded and mumbled, "Nothing happened."
"Sweetheart, it's not enough for me to help catch the bad guys; it's up to citizens like you to make sure that bullies like Henry Tyler here never get the opportunity to do evil."
Kimberly said, "I know, sir. I appreciate it, but, nothing was happening."
Julius whispered, "Then why does that other kid have a ripped shirt collar, a bloody lip and dirt on his knees?"
"We were rough housing!" Jake spoke up.
Julius gave him a dubious look. "Is that a fact?"
Henry nodded. "That's right. Me and my pal Jake were just kidding around with each other."
Julius swished his mouth. "And, so, in the course of this horseplay, Jake, you pushed Henry back?"
"I sure did. Like this!" Jake forcefully shoved Henry to the ground.
Jake, Kimberly and Julius smiled.
"Hey!" Henry yelled. "You little...."
Julius cleared his throat.
Henry faked a laugh. "Yeah, that was a good one, Jake, old buddy."
Julius adjusted his hat. He pointed at the back wall of the feed 'n grain store. "Henry, face the wall. I'm going to frisk you."
Henry collapsed his shoulders. He put his hands on the wall. Julius began frisking him. "Do you remember what I told you the last time, you little miscreant? If you slip up just once then your probation is over and you spend the next two weeks in jail."
Julius was thorough. Henry wasn't carrying any weapons.
Julius turned to Kimberly. He motioned for her to come near. She did.
"Are you absolutely positive that that Jake and Henry here were just rough housing?"
She mumbled, "Yes, sir."
Julius rubbed his chin. "Were you involved in their little game?"
Kimberly shook her head, no.
Julius winked at her. "But... if you were... what would you do?"
Kimberly wore a devious grin. She stepped back and kicked Henry in his rear-end.
"Ouch!"
Julius, Jake and Brian all laughed.
Henry was humiliated. He rubbed his sore bottom.
Henry growled, "If I ever...."
"What's that Henry? Are you about to threaten this girl? If you are then that's enough for me to arrest you."
"No, sir. I wasn't."
"You'd better not. You know why? Because I know happen to know that Kimberly's father would be quite upset if he thought that you had done something inappropriate with her. As a matter of fact, if he ever came looking for you I'd write down your address so he knows exactly where to find you. Do you think Tom Buchanan would be as generous as I?"
Henry was sweating profusely. "No, sir."
"That's right. If I ever find out that you've given more than a handshake to Kimberly or Margaret or Lynn Watson or Emily or any other girl you will be begging me to let you inside the jail."
Henry choked up, "Yes, sir."
"Do you have any unfinished business downtown?"
Henry shook his head. "No, sir. Can I go home?"
"In a second. A few weeks ago, when my mother had a heart attack, you came over and cleaned the jail. Sarah Conrad watched you. Do you know what she told me?"
Henry shook his head.
Julius said slowly, "She said that you were a perfect gentleman and you expertly cleaned the jail."
Henry cocked his head. "Really?"
"That's right. If you want to Henry you can be a respectable citizen. Tomorrow, when you go to school, you'll have another opportunity to prove yourself and be a man. Don't mess that up."
Henry looked down.
Julius sighed. "Why don't you run on home and think about what we talked about."
Henry nodded and took off running.
"Kimberly? Kimberly?" came an older woman's voice.
"Over here, mother!" She walked off.
Julius turned to the boys. "Brian, you did the right thing. You got me. Jake, son, I appreciate your courage but… you got to be more… cognizant that a taller, heaver, older boy like that…" he looked down. "On second thought, Brian, you did the right thing. Jake, you did the right thing."
The boys smiled.
"I'm proud of you both."
Julius walked away.
Jake collapsed his shoulders in relief. "Wow. That was crazy."
Brian was amazed. "He would've beaten you to a pulp and then he would've gone after me."
Jake shrugged. "Maybe."
Just then Kimberly ran up to Jake. She kissed him on the cheek and then ran back to her mother.
Jake smiled.
Brian nudged him. "Come on, let's go."
