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quick.  In a blink he backhanded me across the face.  I didn’t even have time to flinch.  “I told you to shut up,” he barked, slurring his words.  “Don’t make me tell you again , boy .”
    My face stung like fire, but I looked him straight in the eye.  “It’s not worth it.”
    “You’ll do what I tell you,” he warned, his voice laden with menace.  “Georgie, you know what to do?”
    “Yes, Pa.  Don’t let him beat me.”
    “Right.”  Pa rose from the table and clapped Georgie on the back, then turned to me.  “We’ll show them bastards.  Right?”
    I didn’t say anything, glad Ma wasn’t there to look into my heart and see what I was feeling.  Pa glowered another warning at me, then stumbled back to the bar.  Georgie finished his stew.
    Within minutes a group of men had cleared the center of the room—stacking chairs against the walls and pushing tables to the corners—forming an open area in the middle .  Extra lanterns were hung so there would be plenty of light.  Men stood expectantly around the perimeter, waiting for things to begin.
    Pete Jenkins was bartending that night.  He agreed to hold the wagers, keep time, and settle any disputes.  Although in his stubborn pride Pa had foolishly given Abe even odds, most side bets in the room were weighed heavily in favor of the McClintocks.  Just about everyone had money down, and you could feel the tension mounting as Georgie and I stepped forward .
    Jake and Caleb were already waiting .  They had taken off their sh irts so’s not to get them torn.  We did the same.  As I said, Georgie was a big kid for nineteen, but Jake had twenty pounds on him, and Caleb was even bigger than that.  Next to them we looked puny.
    The rules were simple:  no kicking, biting, or gouging.  Everything else was okay.  Jake and Caleb had five minutes to put us on our backs, either wrestled down or knocked unconscious.  From the way the McClintock boys were grinning, I knew they intended the latter.
    “Hey, swifty, c’mere,” said Caleb, smacking his big-knuckled fist into his palm.  “I’ve got somethin’ for you.”
    “Aw, Caleb, you know my name’s not swifty,” Georgie replied with a smile.
    “The match begins in thirty seconds,” Pete yelled, staring at his pocket watch.
    Balancing lightly on the balls of his feet, Jake squared off against me.  “I’m gonna enjoy this,” he said quietly.
    “Fifteen seconds,” Pete called, eyes still on his timepiece.  “You boys ready?”
    None of us said anything.  I concentrated on Jake, watching his hands.  The room had turned so still I could almost hear the blood pounding in my ears.
    “Go!”
    Jake charged in fast and low, trying to circle me with his arms.  I sidestepped.  As he went by I shoved down hard on his shoulders, slamming his face into the floor.
    “Atta boy, Seth!” Pa hollered.  “Now s tay away from him.”
    Damn right , I thought.
    Jake rose, blood streaming from his nose.  He cupped his hand to his face, staring in disbelief as his palm filled with blood.
    By now everybody was shouting.  Old man McClintock yelled something at Caleb.  Pa shifted to the other side and I could hear him yelling, too.  A deafening mix of grunts and cheers and clamors resounded in the room, beating at me from all directions.  Ignoring the roar, I focused on Jake.
    Anger slowly replaced his look of surprise.  I think he had planned to end it quickly by sweeping me off my feet.  Now things had changed.  I could see it in his eyes and the way he balled his fists.  Now he wanted to hurt me.  Bad.
    I circled right, trying to keep space at my back so I would have room to move.
    Jake charged a second time, swinging as he came in.  I slipped his first punch and ducked inside, ramming my head into his face as hard as I could.  Something crunched against my skull .  I dropped to the floor and tried to roll away, but Jake got a grip on my ankle.  I kicked and connected again.