Bessie asked if she and the girls could come to visit Rud and Patience in the valley for a day. Patience told Bessie she was always welcome. Bessie asked if they could send Billy over the night before so he could escort them to the cabin. Patience, who had been reluctant to let Billy go outside the valley alone, surprised Rud by saying it was a good idea and asked what day. Billy was all for it. Rud said it wasn't hard to find and asked why they needed an escort.

Bessie didn't answer Rud's question. She just said she thought it was best. Bessie said she had a special request for them, but she would only ask once there. After leaving Bessie's, Patience wanted to know more about Rud's years alone. Bessie was not one to tell stories, but if she thought there was something you should be aware of, she would mention it in a way that made you want to find out more. Rud asked what Bessie had said. Billy, sitting in the cart chair, moved up behind them, wanting to hear as well.

Bessie had asked if Patience knew about the Mad Hermit who lived in their valley. Patience said she had laughed until she saw Bessie was serious. Bessie said everyone had heard the story of a hermit living in the valley. He had gone mad when he was a young boy and lived off the corpses of people he killed. People have disappeared around the valley, and some claim to have seen him drag off bodies. It was the main reason why many area residents never ventured into the valley.

Bessie had gotten to know Rud before she found out he lived in the valley. She did not believe Rud could be the Mad Hermit, but since they lived safely in the valley, Rud must know or have some agreement with the hermit. Maybe since Rud was a young boy when he came to the valley, the Mad Hermit had left him alone.

Rud told Patience in all the times he and his father had come to the valley, and in the last seven years he lived there, he had never seen any signs of another person, much less a Mad Hermit. Patience told Rud that Bessie had said before the Mad Hermit drags off the bodies, he says, "I keep what I kill." Rud responded, "Uh-oh." Patience asked in a panic, "So you know him?" Rud said, "Yes, and you are sitting next to him."

Rud explained the men in town were not the first he had killed. His first year in the valley was difficult, but he made it through. The problem came the following spring when he tried to trade his furs for supplies at one of the taverns. A twelve-year-old boy was an easy target for the bad men who ran and patronized those establishments. He was taken advantage of in the trades, although he did get most of the supplies he needed.

Three patrons, who were in league with the tavern owner, ambushed Rud after he left the tavern, stole his money and supplies, and beat him severely. He made it back to the cabin but was barely able to hunt or trap and was unprepared when winter came. Without the needed supplies, he nearly died of starvation and the cold.

The following spring Rud went to trade what few furs he had at the same tavern. This year though, at thirteen, Rud was a different person than he had been the previous year. Rud said he demanded all the supplies he wanted in exchange for the few furs he had. The tavern owner told his men, the same three who had ambushed and beat him the year before to kill Rud this time.

They saw him as just a boy, but Rud was ready for them. Rud did not wait for the three men to make their move. Rud attacked them so quickly, and with such ferocity, they were caught off guard. Rud quickly and savagely killed all three with his knife and hatchet right there in the tavern.

Rud took the supplies he needed to his cart, came back in, and took all the possessions of the three men, putting their valuables in an empty flour sack. He then tied a rope to the legs of the three men he had killed, slung the flour sack over his shoulder, and before walking out, shouted at the tavern keeper, "I keep what I kill." Outside he tied the rope to his cart then drove his cart away with the mule at a gallop.

Rud said he could hear the bodies knock over tables, chairs, and other patrons as the mule pulled the bodies through the tavern and out the door. Rud dropped the bodies in a ravine a couple of miles from the tavern. He then rode home with the possessions of the men he had killed and all the supplies he needed.

The men had stolen everything from him the year before, so Rud felt he had a right to take their possessions. That is what he meant by "I keep what I kill." Rud said he probably should have said it differently, but it was a spontaneous comment made in anger. The reason for dragging the bodies out was to make as big a mess and cause as much damage in the tavern as he could. He had cut and hacked the men with his knife and hatchet, and he knew blood would be everywhere.

Rud wanted to make sure all the tavern-keepers and patrons got the message he would not be pushed around. Rud said it worked as the tavern-keepers now treated him fairly on the rare occasion he went into one. The next year he started trading his furs in town. He had never heard the Mad Hermit story. But, thinking back, it did explain what happened in another tavern a few years later.

* * * * *

Patience didn't know how to feel. She tightened her grip on his arm. Could the kind and caring man who had saved her and her brother be such a cold hard killer? She had not seen Rud kill the men in town. She had not thought about it. Rud seemed as rough and tough as they come, but he had always treated her and Billy with kindness. She and Billy would not be alive had Rud not killed the men who attacked and killed her parents. But she had never really thought of Rud as a killer.

Patience knew how rumors, although based on some facts, have a life of their own. She asked if he had killed others. Rud sighed, and she knew the answer. Rud said, "Life isn't what we want it to be, and I have done things I wish I had not had to do. But I had to, and I did." Rud told her that was the man before she came into his life, and he was not that man anymore. Patience leaned against him as they silently rode home. Despite the killing, Patience knew Rud was a good man.

* * * * *

About midday on the appointed day, Patience and Rud instructed Billy to be careful going to Bessie's, and they would see them all in the morning. Patience had told Billy not to tell anyone, not even Bessie about Rud being who people called the Mad Hermit. Billy nodded, then looked at Rud and said he would watch out for other travelers. Rud waved, and off Billy went.

Early the next morning, Rud and Patience heard a wagon crossing the rocky hill and went outside to greet Bessie and the girls. Billy was driving the wagon with Alice sitting by his side. Rud could not believe how much Billy had changed since coming to the valley. Billy looked at least a foot taller.

Bessie and Martha were sitting on the floor of the wagon, looking relieved to be at their destination. As he helped them down, Rud told Bessie it looked like he needed to add an extra bench to their wagon. Billy, with Alice still by his side, drove the wagon over near the creek where he could unhitch the team. Bessie said when Billy hitched the team this morning, pulled the wagon in front of the house, and remained on the driver's bench, she thought she would be able to sit next to him and enjoy being driven around. When Alice beat her to it, she had no choice but to sit in the back.

Rud and Patience looked at each other and smiled. Bessie said if this continued, she might take Rud up on the offer. Rud looked down towards the wagon. Billy and Alice had already unhitched the team and were walking down the side of the creek together. Rud nodded their way and said, "I'll get some boards and have it ready by the time you leave."

Rud stayed with Patience, Bessie, and Martha most of the day. Late morning Patience asked Bessie about the special request she had for them. Bessie said that could wait then asked Martha to go check on the young "doves" as she called Billy and Alice, and make sure they weren't getting into trouble. Bessie continued to talk about normal things until Martha was well away from the cabin.