"IT’S GINNY, SLIM"

By Neebeeshaabookway

Proof read by Carol Marsella

THIS STORY BLOSSOMED OUT FROM THE ROSE IN "THE LAWLESS SEVEN" AND WOULD FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. 

(It includes Jess’ memories of situations he has mentioned in Stage Stop, Glory Road, Bitter Glory, Rimrock and a reference to Ma, from Star Trail.)

CHAPTER ONE

THE WATER 

Water, thought Jess, something a man can’t live without. I remember plenty of times I’ve had to do without, and as I recall it sure wasn’t pleasant. The last waters I drank from had some unexpected surprises to go along with those swallows I needed. Jess let his horse drink as he finished his thoughts, surprises I’d have sooner done without, YET, one of those surprises is as precious to me now as water is to a thirsty man. 

Now it was his turn for some refreshment. It was half way through September and the recent showers had finally let up. The Sherman Lake was full, smooth, and inviting. A very refreshing sight for a tired man. He knelt beside the waters and emptied his canteen over his head and let the water run down over his face as he leaned over the edge of the bank. The ripples on the surface of the lake traveled out farther and farther as the drops of water dripped off Jess’ face and hit the smooth surface. He was hot, tired and dirty, ready for home. He shifted his weight and tried to stand but his leg was too numb. Occasionally numb, but nevertheless, healed. He had just finished checking and repairing quite a few areas of fence, and he was sure ready to rest that leg. 

It sure feels good to be alive, he thought, as his eyes scanned across the lake, and up into the blue sky. He knew that beautiful clear sky occasionally held a surprise. Yep, he just knew he could spot a hawk or two if he was just patient enough, and there was one, right off above the tree line on the other side of the lake. Soon there would be another, as he took one last look, he heard the faint call of the other hawk in the distance. Waiting again, he saw the other appear in the sky. They seemed to share a special message together high up above the lake, and then disappear just as quickly. Just like partners Jess thought, and mine will be missing me if I don’t get moving right quick 

He leaned back and stretched out with a sigh, and eyed the water again. He was only going back to the ranch, but might as well refill the canteen while he waited for his leg to ease up. As he dipped down into that cool Sherman water, Jess stared down at the water and watched the drops from his face again. As the last few hit, he was drawn into the rings of ripples, fascinated by how the sunlight sparkled with their pattern. He also remembered something else that had fascinated him, something from far off, from a different spot, near different waters. The same waters that had held the unexpected surprises along with something precious. He remembered Ginny.

CHAPTER TWO

PULLING THE TRIGGER  

He’d met her near the end of August, after a buying trip in Colorado that had gone wrong…nearly dead wrong. He reached down and into the water and stared at his hand. As the water ran off his fingers, he hit the trigger in his mind and the memories shot out. He could still feel what had happened that day and how tired and sore he had been from the events. Sore in both senses of the word and tired to just about the farthest that the word tired could be stretched. His arm had ached so bad from the bullet, he’d lost his horse and nearly been hung. He’d felt sick and faint from the climb up the wall of rocks but, to his grateful heart, there was cool water. He had found a haven, high up and safe from a hostile posse.  

He must have passed out then or fallen asleep up in that nook near the stream, under the shade of the trees. He never really knew which, but she had heard him moaning from his dreams. Bad dreams. Of what, he had wondered then? His past, his newfound trouble, or just his pain? No matter…there she had been, touching his face as he lay there on the ground. Remembering, Jess closed his eyes and felt the sun, just as he had felt it warm that day, too. He had been ready to walk the road with his lame horse, and the sheriff had showed up unexpectedly…with an escort. A hanging escort to be exact! He was lucky to get loose of them. 

Yeah, Jess thought, that sheriff said he’d drop me where I stood if I didn’t get up and ride with them, and when I felt that rope over me I new I better high-tail it. That rock wall and hidden bit of wilderness along with its stream sure had my name on it, even though I found more trouble at the edge of those waters. He stared at the Sherman waters again now. He had met her at the water’s edge and she more than made up for all that trouble. She and her mother had been picking berries, and he, Jess Harper, had been there, running for his life.  

CHAPTER THREE

GINNY, HER EYES AND HER VOICE  

She had startled him so much as he awaked that he hadn’t realized at first that she was blind. It seemed she was behaving a slight bit odd, but he knew that he, himself, wasn’t well, so he dismissed it. She had asked him if he was hurt and he’d assumed she had been asking about the seriousness of his wound, since he was obviously bleeding.  Anyone could plainly see that.  

He had replied with a groggy, "Some," to her question, with a quick double-check on the wound. As he tried to rise, she was alarmed by his groan and sensed that he was really hurt. She had been right. As he partook of this odd scene, he wondered why, in blazes, didn’t this make sense to him? Couldn’t she see? It was then that he realized she couldn’t. It wasn’t his state of mind, or her mentality. It was a situation he had not come across yet. Surprised by her keen perception, he remembered his words to her at the time, "Remind me never to lie to you!" He then began closely studying her, all the while in the back of his mind, his thoughts had been playing with her lovely voice and it’s beautiful lilt. It matched the scenery, like the birds in the trees. It almost seemed like a dream to him for a moment, but his bleeding arm told him otherwise.  

After she helped him up and he had soaked in his surroundings again, this time with her countenance included, he had realized she was a rare and special sight. She was like one of those alpine flowers he had seen many times in the high country when he’d been hunting.  Dainty, yet sturdy. Those special flowers must be strong to survive there in the high woodlands, yet they flourish, fragile and lovely, in the most remote places. Her too, thought Jess. Here she is in this remote place, yet she seems strong and surprisingly at ease with herself. I really feel at ease and comfortable around her, too, Jess continued in thought as he noticed, she has a special grace to her that doesn’t make me want guard my thoughts. But, here? Alone??? No, and a rude reception a few minutes later sure had told him otherwise.  

Jess splashed the water into the air and watched it sparkle, as he remembered. The memory of her was just as clear as the sparkling waters were now, she sure had handled herself so well as they drank at the creek together that day. She wasn’t afraid and the waters didn’t sparkle for her as it did for him just now. She only saw darkness as she drank that day, with him, a stranger hidden in that same darkness. However she did feel comfortable with his voice and presence, and Jess knew that and kept it in mind. And far back in mind it soon went, as he faced his newest troubles as he sat with her. One of her so-called family members arrived along with her mother and took him along with them at gunpoint. 

Yes, that was Ginny. And that was then and this was now. Jess smiled as he said it to himself. He filled his canteen, dunked his head, stretched out his leg and headed for home. Yep, that was then and this was NOW. NOW it was time to head home. NOW the air was fresh after some hard early September showers had cleared over. NOW he had something special and new in his life and NOW he could look back and see some good from it all: being charged and arrested for murder by the Colorado sheriff and ready to be hung…being shot as he escaped…having a price on his head, again!...being held by Ginny’s father’s gang…the Cheyenne robbery… He stopped abruptly with the NOW's. Well…if it wasn’t for that whole sorry mess, something he was so innocently engulfed in, there wouldn’t be a NOW with Ginny. But the Cheyenne robbery - that sank with a deep, sickening thud into the cellar of his soul and for NOW that door was shut. He happily focused on Ginny as he neared home.

CHAPTER FOUR

FULL MIND AND EMPTY STOMACH  

Jess was sure it was near suppertime when he arrived back at the ranch. The afternoon sun had been setting fast, and it was still light but not as hot. Nice evening for romance, he thought as he remembered the few nights he had enjoyed with Ginny, after she and her mother had helped to clear his name. The Colorado business with the sheriff and posse, they had learned, was already cleared up, but Jess needed help concerning the Cheyenne bank hold-up. This was a bad problem, as it looked very seriously against him. The sheriff had set up a town meeting and supper to show support for Jess that evening after the trial. He was still worthy of being a deputy and Mort was still Jess’ staunch supporter, even considering he had also helped rob a Wyoming stage, which was more towards Mort’s jurisdiction, than the Cheyenne bank had been.  

He still felt tarnished though, from the shame he felt, but the star in his heart beamed to know that he had been believed. His name was cleared. But Slim - Slim didn’t know yet. He had only been back from his buying trip just this week. Jess suspected Slim noticed his limp, but, hey, this is rough ranch life, right? Well, dad-gum if Slim don’t occasionally limp when he wants some sympathy for some extra supper now and then! Supper...hmm…supper and a pretty woman sure brings a smile to a man’s face! And I’m sure ready for that supper now!  

As Jess pulled up his horse, Slim shouted out, "Wipe that silly grin off your face, Jess! You’re late! And that’s nothing to smile about, considering Daisy just gave your supper to the cat!"  

“Oh now, Slim, you know Miss Daisy’d never do that," Jess replied flippantly, as his face innocently sparkled.  

He jumped down from his horse and they were just getting involved in some good-hearted wrestling, when Slim suddenly stopped short. Jess tensed up a bit and let his senses size up the matter. He felt a jolt deep down inside himself, in the cellar. Maybe? "Slim, I…" Jess fumbled for words, and felt helpless. It must have shown all over his face, but Slim seemed to focus on something else.  

"No, Jess, seriously, you seem to have some special secret. All week since I’ve been back, I keep catching you gazing off into the stars - and this is during the day, mind you. Did you hit your head on something sometime back and not quite recover yet? Or, maybe just one too many times, and now it’s all starting to add up? I noticed you’ve been limping, Pard. Horse throw you maybe, or…?"  

Slim peered at Jess, then took a couple giant steps closer till he was just inches away from Jess’ face. "Now, don’t tell me you’re tipping the jug, Jess." Slim took a deep breath, and continued, "I sure don’t smell nothing."  

It sure is amazing how tall and menacing Slim can look when he wants to, Jess thought as he looked into his face. Jess waited for Slim to laugh, but he didn’t, so Jess smiled to ease off the pressure of his deeper secret.  

"Hey, Pard, you know me," Jess said. "I ain’t no jug tipper. I might tip my hat to the ladies occasional-like, but I’m as sober as a newborn calf drinking from its ma."  

"Well," Slim shuffled his feet and played back a little. "Well…" he said again. "I hate to think you’re getting old and senile like ol’ Joe in Medicine Bow did just before he died."  

"Well now, Slim, do I look old to you? Now do I, Slim?" said Jess, as seriously as he could. Jess then busted out laughing. Laughing so hard at Slim, because he looked so worried.  

But then Jess was the one to stop short. He wanted to tell Slim about Ginny, but as to how and when, well, that was another matter. This was special and Slim was special.  

Jess knew that Daisy suspected. Last week she’d noticed him smiling, so he had read her Ginny’s letter. That letter that pleased his mind and heart. He had read that she could see again. She saw a rose. Jess paused in his thoughts. Yep, he had read it himself. She SAW a rose. As he had read it to Daisy, he had looked up and stared into a rose, a real rose! Where had it come from? It was from the yard, and in Daisy’s hand. His mind, that day, had just slipped out of Ginny’s letter and into the scene of Daisy showing him a fresh cut rose from her bush. She had just finished pruning it and placed it before him as he had finished reading. 

The printed word, the mental rose he had envisioned, and the rose of reality all connected that instant. It confirmed what he had already learned and had come to know in his short time with Ginny. She was the one for him. Daisy would be the easy one to tell, he thought, everything is special to them women folk no matter where or when you tell them. But men folk, well, we’re different. We handle our personal feelings our own way, our own time. Jess decided he’d just have to wait. Jug-tipper! What a hoot! as he thought back on Slim’s accusation. He’d just have to wait for a nice inviting open door. Shucks, he thought, with this dang silly grin of mine, that I’m supposed to have, this door’s gotta bust wide open soon. But when? Slim had been back a week and it was already the middle of September. All it takes is a bit more thinking and… 

"Jess! Jess? Jess!" Slim hollered. "What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me? Did I suddenly grow antlers or something?"  

"No, no, Slim!" Jess said, hastily, "Your head’s okay! It’s just, well…my horse is in my head! I mean, dad-gum, my mind’s full up with my horse an’ all. I just plum forgot to take care of my horse, then I can eat. Be right back, Slim. Now don’t go wanderin’ off or anything." 

"Look who’s talkin’ about wanderin’ off!" Slim shouted. Sure don’t know where his mind’s a wanderin’ to, Slim thought, but I’d say he’s just along for the ride at this point. "You ain’t soaked up a sop of what I’ve been saying, Jess! Ya hear me?"  

Slim sat down on the porch and watched the cat eat Jess’ supper. It was too late to rescue it. It was supposed to be a game, a little joke, but he just realized that he’d clean forgot, as the cat lapped it up to its heart’s content. Good thing his head’s full of horse, ‘cause his stomach’s sure gonna be empty tonight, Slim thought to himself, as he stared at his friend disappearing into the barn.  

CHAPTER FIVE

NOTHING LEADS TO SOMETHING  

Sunrise caught Jess relaxing with coffee on the porch. Running things through his mind, Jess checked it all out. He knew, of course, that getting hitched sometime in the next few years wouldn’t change his and Slim’s lives in the sense of dividing them as pards. Slim would sure understand that, since he was starting to become smitten with that Kitty McAllen. They might be getting some intentions someday, too. And as to their friendship and partnership, they both knew by now that nothing, come hell or high water, would ever separate them, and in their many adventures they had just about seen it all - whether past or present, separate or together, and even here at the ranch. Talk about adventures! They had learned their lives were like an arrow and a compass. They both belonged working together, pointing the same direction. Slim was maybe the arrow leading the way and yeah, maybe he was North, South, East and West for a while. But together with Slim he was lined up just fine now. Yep, just fine. Fine morning too, as a matter of fact. That morning sun sure felt good, and Jess continued in his thought enjoying the warmth from the mug of coffee in his hands.  

As he thought about courting, he remembered the time he was ready to court that school-marm. Slim found out easy enough then, though. Didn’t need no open door then. Good ol’ Slim caught him taking a bath on an ‘improper day’. Improper for a working man, maybe, but any man that has his mind set on courting will take a bath in the middle of the week anytime, and not just on Saturdays. Sometimes even twice, which he, himself, had been guilty of. Well, courtin’ wasn’t meant to be, taking off to go help old Sgt. Billy out of a bad scrape was though. Why, he’d thought Slim had been cutting in from the way he’d talked when Jess got back, and there she was ready to off and marry up with some lawyer, if he remembered right. Well, at least Slim learned some cooking - and cook he did. Jess’ shoulder and arm were so sore that time, Slim not only cooked, but did quite a bit of the chores, as he recollected. Good ol’ Slim, letting me rest up and all. And I really needed some resting up then.  

"Jess! Jess!" Slim yelled. Jess fell back off the chair and his coffee spilt all over like mud flying up from a puddle.  

"Well, what do ya know?" Jess said out loud, much surprised. "It is mud! Mud and coffee, now how’d I manage to do that?" I’m really a mess, and it’s so early in the day too, he thought. He also vaguely recollected hearing someone hollering for him.  

"Jess, do you need some restin’ up or something?" Slim wryly questioned him with an odd look on his face, as he stared down at him. He had just tipped the end of Jess’ chair as he sat there on the porch, and over Jess had gone. Jess, coffee, and muddy water mixed together into a stew of sorts at the foot of the porch.  

"Well, yeah, I was reflecting on it a mite. I mean - no, Slim, I don’t need no restin’ up. But I reckon some washing-up is in order now," he said as he looked up at Slim. "What did I do, Slim?" Jess asked innocently, this time like a little kid.  

"Nothing, Jess! Nothing! That’s all you’ve been doing all morning! Nothing! You said you’d just be finishing your coffee. Now look! It’s almost ten o’clock and you’ve been at that coffee since six. I’ve been working for four hours out there and the stage is due in soon." 

"Four hours! Well that can’t be, Slim!" he protested in alarm.  

"Well, "be" it is, Jess", Slim informed him. "Coffee’s gone now, Jess, …drownin’ the ants. Why don’t you go clean up? I’m sorry about the mud, Pard. I thought you’d land on the porch." Slim offered a helping hand and pulled Jess up. 

"Thanks Slim, I’m sorry too," Jess offered up, vainly trying to smear off the mud. 

Slim couldn’t help but smile a little, as he looked at Jess. He really had been doing some heavy day dreaming, as he really caught him by surprise. "Good thing you don’t start off every morning like this Jess or we’d be finishing four hours late every night."  

"Maybe you need a vacation or something, or a kick in the pants! Maybe you’re lovesick or something, like that moony-eyed heifer up there under the trees? She just seems to be floating around up there in some other world as well." The words were hardly out of Slim’s mouth when he saw Jess’ jaw drop hard and fast, just about enough to make him almost choke from it. They stood staring at each other and then Jess slowly backed up to the door, fumbled for the knob, opened it and slipped in to the house to go change.  

Daisy peeked out. "What’s wrong with Jess, Slim? He’s awful quiet", she said, with a catch in her voice, "and quite a mess, I might add."  

"Daisy, I’m not quite sure, but I think I’ve just learned something. Ol’ Jess and that moony-eyed heifer have a lot in common right now. And it sure ain’t hay!" 

CHAPTER SIX

READY, SET, GO 

Jess had just finished cleaning up and was working on the shirt buttons, when he stopped and checked his face in the mirror. "Harper" he said to himself, "you still look like you been wrestling steers". He rolled up his sleeves instead and went to work on cleaning up his hair and face. Now just how could I forget that, what is it that Daisy always says, he wondered? Clean face, clean mind? No, I guess it was somethin’ like clean hands, clean mind? Aww, heck, I reckon it don’t really matter none, as long as I’m cleaned up and back in action for Slim. Well now, pretty good, I’d say, Jess smiled as his finished his thoughts, along with his grooming. Yeah, Ginny would approve for sure! 

She said that I had a good face, Jess thought, as he smiled at himself in the mirror. Strong but gentle, she said, too. Jess felt pleased with that. I never thought of it that way, just that it was mine, and I had a likin’ to it. A little banged up at times, especially that one lip. That always seems to be the one to get hit. He stepped back slightly and studied his face again. Yeah, not too bad. Kind of nice compared to some.  

Mike peeked in, and Jess, feeling a little shy and embarrassed, shuffled out. "I think I need a shave soon, Tiger," he muttered as he fluffed Mike’s hair. Making a hasty exit from his room and nearing the front door, he nearly spun Daisy as their paths crossed at the doorway. He caught her and finished the spin with a "Beggin’ your pardon, Ma’am!" Shocked at himself, he hastily tried again, "I mean, I’m sorry, Miss Daisy."  

"Dear, dear, Jess, what could you possibly have on your mind to be in such a hurry, you came in so slow…and such an about face now!" Daisy said as she turned a little more to face him, but he was already out the door.  

"Well my, my, what was that all about? Do you know, Mike?" Daisy asked. She was still not really sure just what happened there in the doorway. She felt partly like a jilted dance partner and partly like she was hit by a horse, and wasn’t quite sure which.  

"Oh yes, Miss Daisy," Mike said rather seriously. "Jess had to study himself to see if he needed a shave soon, and sure enough, he said he did. He must be in a hurry so he can come back and get right to it."  

"Oh, I see. That might be the long way about it, right, Mike?" she said as she sent him a twinkling smile. 

"Well I guess it sure ain’t the short way," Mike answered, "It must just not be soon enough yet." They both laughed and ran to the door to watch Jess. "Oh look, stage is here too. Maybe he’ll shave after the stage, do ya think, Miss Daisy?" said Mike.  

"No Mike," she answered. "I think he just shaved your coattails."  

"But I don’t got any coattails, Miss Daisy," Mike said. 

She bent down to kiss his cheek, saying, "I know Mike, and Jess didn’t need a shave either."  

As Slim and Jess took care of the stage, Mose passed the time of day. He mentioned how tomorrow he was sure there would be no passengers on board for his afternoon run back but he’d come through early in the morning and head out that way for some mail and business as usual. There were too many complainers about the bad shape of the road since the heavy rain. 

"We all know the stage is expected anyway, if it didn’t show just once, you’d just know for sure there’d be people lined up a waitin’ and complainin’" Mose said. "No matter what they tell me, I just don’t trust them city folk. Well, with the road being really bad from that last downpour, they’ve been spreading it all around town. People figure they’ll wait another week and let this September sunshine dry it out. Except for the rain, it still feels like August to me! Now instead of jes’ bein’ tired and muddy, I’m hot, tired and muddy!"  

Jess jumped into the conversation. "That’s what Miss Daisy’s always hoping for. For fall to put on the brakes and keep them summer flowers a-bloomin’ in that hot sun, Mose. Don’t let her know you’re against it, now!" he said as he flashed a wink and a grin up to Mose.  

"You wouldn’t be fixin’ to tell on me now, would you, Jess?" Mose eyed back at him, and continued, "These city-folk just seem to be getting a mite fussy." He stared down at the wheels. "You know, boys, I only got stuck three times. Weren’t too bad either, about twenty minutes each time. Look, my boots aren’t even too bad. Nothin’ a little cleaning couldn’t take care of." Mose continued, "Marcus here, he helped me a lot. He helps out at the stables in Cheyenne, so he offered to help on the way up here. That’s why his boots are a mite messier than mine!" He chuckled as he spoke, with a grin on his face.  

When the word Cheyenne came up, Jess took note of it and sighed deeply. The word Cheyenne had become such a sore spot to him now, not like before when he had pleasant memories of it. He had many friends there, and was deputy so many times for the sheriff…yeah, lots of good memories. Been there with Daisy, too. But since the hold-up, everything seemed to bump up and rub against that sore spot no matter how tightly he tried to hold that cellar door shut. Jess knew his name was clear but the only way to rid himself of that sore spot was to tell Slim, but he felt like such a dang fool, and so ashamed that he had been part of it.  

How much longer can I go on hidin’ this, Jess wondered, I need just the right time. It’s gotta’ be soon, or good ol’ Slim just might find out on his own, then I’ll feel even more the fool. And now, look who shows up, Marcus. Nah, it’s nothin’ he thought, Marcus is just a kid. They don’t pay attention to who robs the banks; they just soak in the action details and I sure never laid eyes on him before. Jess looked down at the dirt and kicked it around a little, and then got back to his duties. Anyway, the day seemed to be getting better, chatting with Mose and getting the stage ready with Slim. Yeah, it felt just as good as the morning sun had a while ago. So Jess decided to let it go and instead took note of Mose and his muddy boots as he climbed up on the stage. All refreshed and hooked up, the stage took off, leaving Slim and Jess to their thoughts. Now Jess was beginning to loose some of that contentment he had just been fixing to enjoy. He began to feel a little edgy as he noticed that Slim was deep in thought. They looked at each other and Jess began to piece together all that had just happened, Mose and his boots and all. 

"Oh, now wait a just a minute, Slim," Jess protested. "I just cleaned myself up!"  

"Well, good for you, Jess! And you know exactly what I’m thinking now, don’t ya, Jess? Dad-gum if it ain’t just great having you back on the good earth’s solid ground and not floating in the clouds anymore! You know we have to check out the fences near the Rock-Cliff slide area," Slim continued. "Each year, except last, we’ve found fences broken from rock slides and mud, and our strays up in those rocks, putting their feet where they got no business. The rain’s been stopped long enough. We better go check now. Saddle up and I’ll get the tools, and I’ll tell Daisy we’ll probably get in late. Don’t want her to worry none." Then, with a second thought, Slim added, "Hey, clouds could roll in by evening, maybe we best grab some coats just in case."  

"In case of what, Slim?" Jess grumbled as he stood there looking scrappy. "You expecting winter some time soon?"  

Slim just smiled… "Funny, Jess, very funny.” 

CHAPTER SEVEN

DOWN TO EARTH THE HARD WAY  

As they headed out to the Rock-Cliff area, Jess soaked in the scenery, well, no open doors here, Jess thought, but maybe some closed fences, I hope. It sure feels good riding the trail, though, work or no work. He knew if all was well, they would be home earlier than expected even if they were late for supper. Thoughts came to his mind of a nice fire out in the yard, under the stars, and heating up left over roast from Daisy’s supper. Yep, that’d be a great open door - under the stars, listening to the night, and the crackle of a nice fire.  

"Hey, Slim, take a look," Jess said, feeling pretty proud of himself for being so perceptive an’ all. "The rocks have slid down a good twenty feet, and looks like the fences were smashed from that pile that fell straight down. Don’t see any strays yet, though."  

Slim smiled. He felt good inside now, out on the trail with Jess. His friend. Thank heavens he’s back to normal. He just needed this breath of fresh drift. He felt safe to think it too. It was just a breath of the drift, like a breath of fresh air. He knows his home is here. He just needed to feel this mountain air and clear his head. Slim was sure of it and was a mighty happy man. 

They worked long and hard, like two young kids who had just become men and were proud of themselves for their achievements. It turned out better than expected, and their work went smoothly. There was a hint of night in the air, and that special presence of moisture that smelled so good. A few gray clouds had made their appearance, and a hint of fogginess lurked about.  

"Still enough sun left to just make it back before night falls on us. Good work, Jess," Slim said as he thought, once jess sets his mind to getting something done, there’s just no stopping him, work included. He more than made up for those lost four hours from this morning.  

But Jess wasn’t paying attention any more, and had saddled up. He’d heard something and was scanning the rocks. He made out four strays, although actually he was hoping for a nice deer sighting. It always felt good to see them eating in the evening, just like this, before sundown. He’d loved that in the Panhandle and couldn’t shake it off, and really didn’t want to. How good it made him feel, the type of thing that can’t quite be explained. Nothing compared with those fond memories of his youth, out there free in the brush, following the adventures that nature had to offer. Well, accept maybe the continuation of such adventures in himself, the man. Hunting, fishing, and just plain riding the mountain trails. 

"Hey Slim, I spotted four strays…I’ll go get them, Slim! Wait here!" Jess yelled over, and began to take off. A quick ride could shake a little numbness out of that leg he’d been bending down on the last few hours. The smell of adventure was in the air, and since he had missed a deer sighting, this would just have to do for now.  

Yeah, wait here, Slim thought. "Jess, you’re famous for that!" he yelled after him. "Wait here, and then I don’t see you for who knows how long, or else I catch up with you and you’re in some kind of trouble. Jess, hold up! Hey, you know this slide is fresh, at least from this week, you know better than to go up! What do you think you’re doing anyway?"  

Jess pulled around. "You know, Slim," he called back. "I was just thinking that same thing. I’m going up around and chase them back down through the trees. It’s a little harder, but it can be done. You be ready for us."  

"Jess, last year that was safe, this year we haven’t checked it out. The rocks slide that way just as easy, maybe worse, depending on how heavy the rains are and which area they come in from. Remember three years back? Jess?"  

He was already gone, and Slim lit out after him. Normally it would be Jess checking out stuff like this and riding scout so their ranch work was safer and easier, but this time he was playing the adventurer like a got-loose hound. But this sure didn’t seem the time for it. Slim’s mind was churning. Jess sure is turning into a night owl this evening, dreaming all day and now he decides to wake up. We should have left the strays one more day. Just then Slim was shook free of his thoughts by a sound he knew and feared - falling rock! Loud and heavy, and mingled with the sounds of a very frightened horse. He pulled back, struggling with his own very upset horse and realized he was on the edge of the newly fallen rock, spared by only two feet or so. He also knew that Jess was in the middle of it. As much as he hated to, he turned and moved back down the trail and waited. He had to wait, but darkness would soon begin to engulf the area in its deep, soft, blurry fuzz, hiding Jess in its dark embrace.  

He waited forever it seemed, but the horses had quieted. He heard only a few stones roll here and there. He knew he could set them off again, just as easily as Jess had. Maybe they had been due to bust loose, just waiting for a nudge to the right rock to set them all free and now there would be no more shifting from on high. If that were true, then he might be able to move about over the rocks without creating more damage. He dared to venture forward, and saw the strays in the distance. Jess had never got a chance to get close to them, and now they had high-tailed it off in the other direction. Jess’ horse didn’t have that pleasure, but at least it had arrived safely by Slim’s side. He had to leave the horses for now, and let them follow. He took with him the few supplies they had. He knew he had less than two hours to find Jess or he would be forced to wait until morning. And morning could be too late.  

Slim had a gnawing feeling deep down inside that it might even be too late now. He proceeded up and over the rocks that were nestled all around through the trees. The area was still moist and damp here. The other side wasn’t as bad, Slim was sure, but the other side had that sheer drop. Rock falling from that slide would crush a man flat. At least here the trees had slowed and blocked them some. He was trying to comfort himself with the fact that Jess had stayed away from the sheer cliff, and although this looked worse, maybe there was unexpected hope from the trees that Jess always had enjoyed. Slim scoured the area over and over as he moved through and upward. Suddenly Slim snapped to attention, his hat, Slim thought, it’s his hat! He moved towards it but the gladness of finding something familiar was soon gone. It was only a dark piece of old broken tree. Broken off, and lost from wherever it had grown from. And Slim, he felt empty and lost inside.  

"Jess! Jess! Hey Jess! ANSWER ME, JESS!" he yelled desperately through the trees. All that followed was an eerie silence in the cool evening air, which Slim soon broke, as he desperately yelled more of the same.  

Jess opened his eyes very slowly and found himself staring up at hazy sky. His head, and his eyes hurt so bad, and the left side of his face ached just as badly. He couldn’t seem to place what had happened and he felt terribly sick, but none of this mattered just now. Slim needed him. Something was wrong with Slim. He heard Slim calling his name, and he knew he had to get up and help his friend. 

"Hold up, Slim!" The words fell through Jess’ lips, on a slight breath. They were barely audible, let alone distinct words.  

Jess became aware that Slim was getting more and more fired-up. "Hold on, Pard, I’m really trying!" he yelled. At least, he thought he yelled, but it hadn’t come out, he just couldn’t seem to connect with the words. Maybe I already called to him, he thought, and I best be going. He raised a hand to his aching head and tried to get up using his left arm. But it didn’t work, and his whole body was racked with pain like he’d staved-in his ribs, or worse. He couldn’t move and apparently was stuck. 

It was then that Jess realized that he was the one that needed help. Slim was looking for him. If I’m lying here and he’s over yonder somewhere, I’d say he’s a mite lost …or maybe I am. He stared at his bloody hand and wondered where the blood was from. Why was it so dark? He was sinking into a dark cloud and his hand wasn’t clear anymore, and neither were his thoughts. Was it a storm cloud coming up? It wasn’t nightfall. The dark was falling too fast. He wasn’t even thinking anymore, he just knew he had to yell. With all the strength his body fought to muster, Jess let out one yell. It was the one word that had become so familiar and dear to him these last few years. He trusted it would fall on searching ears, the searching ears of a friend. Jess slipped into the blackness as that word, "Slim" slipped out of his lips as loud and clear as he was able to allow it. 

CHAPTER EIGHT

A PRECIOUS FRIEND AND HIS PRECIOUS DEER  

"Hey, Jess! Jess, shout again! I think I know where you are. Can you help me, Jess?" Slim’s heart raced. Jess was alive! Jess was alive! At least Slim could settle for this hope…for now. But how he wished and truly wanted to hear a nice ‘and everything’s going be just fine,’ tacked on to that hope. Jess hadn’t called out anymore, and Slim didn’t like the feel of that. He knew he was racing time, and began to hurry. Inside his head he felt an urge to halt, but didn’t obey. Too late! He’d been too anxious and he felt himself slip. A few rocks rolled, but nothing serious and he was relieved. But then he slipped again and this time he wasn’t relieved. This time, in fact, he was very annoyed. Annoyed and just plain mad. He looked at his wrist and he knew it was broken. He stared at it. All he could do was stare. He seemed lost in time, something he couldn’t afford to waste.  

Snap out of it, Slim, he said to himself, but he just kept staring in disbelief. Staring ain’t gonna fix it! Snap out of it! The whole day had been progressing so well for them, that it was a shock to Slim at this moment. He just didn’t want to accept it. A few hours ago, he had rescued Jess from being all moony-eyed and floating in the clouds and now, here they were, soon to be lost in the fast-approaching dark haze of sundown. Right now, I’d settle for getting lost in some saloon in a whiskey haze, and waking up on the hung-over side, instead of this. He gritted his teeth and pressed on to where he hoped he had heard Jess’s voice. If the odds were in his favor, he would hit pay dirt. He made a left turn and dragged himself, along with the few supplies, around one of the rocks and came out of the trees.  

There was Jess! He was in a small clearing, which he must have been using to climb up above the strays. It seemed that the worst of the rocks had hit here, as they came from higher up the slope. He started closer, but even as he did, he couldn’t keep his spirits up, he was too afraid. Maybe the last he would ever hear from Jess had come through the trees just a few minutes back. He remembered the sound of Jess’ voice. It had the sound of bitter pain in it, but it had sounded so good to Slim Sherman.  

He stepped up to his friend and checked him out as best as he could, feeling for a pulse and listening for his breathing. Slim’s body jerked a little as a shiver ran down his spine, and he gave faint smile as he breathed a slight sigh of relief. The tension left him, he felt more relaxed and able to continue.  

"Hey, Jess," he said softly. "It’s me, it’s Slim. I’m here, Pard." His face fell as he saw the long gash on the side of his friend’s face from the side of his eye downward. It was bleeding badly, and as he ran his hand along the back of Jess’ head, sadly he found blood underneath also. All he could do was rip up his own shirt and wrap up his friend’s head and face the best he could. With each rip, his own wrist jerked in pain. He checked Jess over and realized he was stuck under the rocks. They had come at him mostly on his left side, and over the left side of his chest, which was also soaked with blood. His shoulder looked bent oddly, wedged in between some large rocks. Slim knew it was broken, but his head and chest appeared to be where the worst damage was. He could hear faint gasping coming from Jess, and knew he needed to free him soon so that he could breathe easier. At least, Slim hoped he would. He really just didn’t know.  

The sun had nearly set, and Slim could now hardly see. "Jess, I have to leave you for a bit. I’m right over here next to you but I can’t help you in the dark, so I have to make a fire. Okay, Jess?" Out of habit, Slim waited for Jess to answer, but it never came, and as Slim started the fire he fell to his knees. He knew his heartfelt prayer was heard in the heavens.  

His wrist was aching, but he got the fire done. Some camp, he thought. No blankets, no food, no bandages. He slipped his injured wrist into his undershirt to try to keep it near his body and as still as he could, and went to try and free Jess. Jess was getting feverish, so he used cool wet bandanas to try and keep it in check. He had no other plan. He couldn’t take Jess back, and he didn’t think he should leave him, but that meant waiting until morning. Could Jess make it through the night?  

He knew they would be missed, and someone would come, but who? Mose and Marcus! Daisy would see to that! It was an easy enough trail to follow, so nice and scenic it had brought Jess to his senses earlier when they rode it together. Earlier, yeah. He remembered Jess earlier that morning. He pictured him in the muddy puddle, and his puzzled face. He didn’t even want to get messed up again and now look at him. He’s worse than that muddy mess he was this morning, Slim thought. Slim reached down and checked Jess’ face and head again. The shirt-bandages seemed to be working. Slim went back to his thoughts about the trail and help. I can be waiting for them, a little after noon, and lead them up here.  

As Slim leaned over Jess, and studied on how to move the rocks, it dawned on him that noon was a long way off, and even then someone would have to go in to Laramie for the doc. But then Daisy will stop Mose in the morning, before he ever gets to Cheyenne, I’m sure of it, he thought. Marcus will still be with him. And if there are any passengers Daisy will just have to keep feeding them with her biscuits and pies.  

"I’m here now, Jess," Slim murmured as he slowly began to free Jess from the rocks.  

Jess never seemed to stir, except for some odd twitches that would come and go. Was something wrong or was he trying to wake? Slim could now see that his friend’s chest was a mess, bruised and bloody, more so than he had thought at first. The right side seemed to be in better shape, and Slim suspected that was helping Jess keep up his breathing as well as he was. He used some of the old towels they had brought with them to stop the bleeding. He was breathing better, and Slim covered him with their jackets, and decided to try to get a response from him. He remembered how someone with a sick child had once had used a favorite toy to try to get a response from the child, to rouse him. It had worked. Well, I’m the substitute pa here, and Jess is the sick kid. What can I use? Coffee?  

"Hey Jess, coffee’s ready! Wake up! Remember the strays, Jess?" Slim began to get a little gruff "Get up and get your coffee and LETS GET MOVING, we’re wasting time. Jess! Coffee’s fresh off the fire, wake up! I don’t pay you for sleeping!" Slim started to laugh, and then he cried. It just rolled down his face before he knew what hit him. He felt so stupid, hounding Jess. What if he dies, and that’s my last words to him? He wet the rags again from the canteen, and kept putting them around Jess’ head and face, trying to cool him down. The moon was up, nice and clear but it wasn’t quite full. It still offered some soothing light. The sound of the crackling fire sounded comforting, too. Another time, another place, he thought, it would be more so. 

Jess opened his eyes, tried to focus on Slim, and then on the surroundings lit up by the fire. He was even aware of the moon as his eyes scanned the dark sky, and he smelled smoke. The crackling noise of the fire made him realize he was awake. He tried to move but Slim calmly and firmly stopped and settled him. "Whoa there, Pard," Slim said softly. He felt he could handle the situation now Jess was awake. But Slim wasn’t quite ready for what happened next. 

"There’s deer here, right, Slim?" Jess spoke out in a weak whispered voice. "My mother said early fall was her favorite time to go pick prairie flowers in the evening, and watch the deer. I was really little then, it was before she died. Do you see the deer, Slim? I think I just saw three. Francie always comes with me, see… Where is she? The others went with Pa to watch him make chairs. It is September, ain’t it, Slim? I don’t want to miss the deer. I saw some just now. Didn’t you have some coffee for me, Slim? I’m cold; can you warm it up for me? September shouldn’t be this cold yet. Why, we just sat out there in our shirts, in the fields. Did you know their ears twitch? It is September ain’t it, Slim?… Where did the deer go, Slim?" Jess stared into space, and whispered, "I really wanted some coffee Slim. It seems I spilt some, somewhere, I just don’t recollect it now."  

"Jess, I don’t see any deer. Those are rocks out there. It’s just too dark to tell. How do you feel? Where are you hurting the worst, Jess? Lie still and try to relax, we’ll worry about the deer later, okay, Pard? You might be a little out of your head right now."  

"No, really, Slim, I saw some deer, with the strays." Jess tried speaking again, but was getting weaker and weaker. "I ain’t talking out of my head, honest, Slim. Don’t worry about me. My ma was right, just creep up real slow-like, Slim, or you’ll startle them. Francie and I will show you, Slim… I like the way their ears twitch"  

Slim started to say something but Jess had slipped back into his deer-world - wherever that was. Maybe it’s not so bad, Slim thought. At least he responded to me. Maybe there were deer here earlier. What in blazes do I know? I wasn’t here. Slim’s wrist was burning now, and he tried to sleep, but it was no use.  

He checked on Jess later through the night. "Jess, hey, show me the deer. I made more coffee, Jess." But it was no use with either. Sleeping or waking, Slim was just not having any success. Jess was out and Slim wished he was too. I sure could use a good stiff drink, or two or even three for that matter, he thought, as he hugged the fire as close as he dared. It’s getting a little too cool for me right now, not good, not good…hope it doesn’t rain. "Jess, I wish I could pass out right now, and join you and your deer," Slim said… to unhearing ears. 

CHAPTER NINE

THE WRONG OPEN DOOR AND WINDOWS TO THE PAST  

Jess was startled to feel water hitting his face in big drops and splashes. He tried to fight it. No, it couldn’t be true. But it had to be; his head was hurting so bad. He must be in the Rimrock jail, with the deputy pouring water on his face. He tried to jump up and fight it, but crumpled back in pain. It was early morning. He was stunned to see it was raining and Slim was by his side, standing over him. His eyes quickly scanned the area where he was lying. There were no bars and there was no deputy. Just Slim. It was just a bad dream, and he had had his share of those, many a time. He had also had his share of headaches, and this was the worst yet. Aiming at the target the best he could, he could not figure out why the heck he was lying here in the rain with Slim just looking at him, not even offering a helping hand. Did I do something wrong? Jess wondered. Jail bars began to flash through his mind along with his wounded leg from the bank hold-up - this time it was the Cheyenne jail. The downpour ended as quickly as it had started, and so did Jess’ wondering, as he closed his eyes.  

Slim had been checking on the horses when the downpour hit, and made it back just as Jess had awakened from his alarming dream. He reached Jess and stood over him just as he passed out. Slim had just barely realized what had happened; he was there too late! Jess had really awakened, if just for a few seconds. I missed my chance. I missed it! Slim thought with a deep sick feeling inside, I should have been here and I might have kept him awake. 

"No, Jess! Stay awake! Hey, Jess? Hey, Jess, you were dreaming. Are you awake, can you hear me, Jess?" Slim fell to his partner’s side and prodded him. He tried the magic word. "Coffee, Jess, you want some coffee?" He waited a moment, and then just as he was ready to try again, Jess spoke.  

"Coffee? Out here, Slim? You’re not makin’ sense," he whispered weakly. "You gonna pull it out of your hat or somethin’?"  

"Well no, Jess," he answered. "I’ve been worried about you and I’ve been trying to rouse you."  

"So you’re gonna save me with coffee, are ya now, Slim?" Jess said, trying feebly to smile up at Slim, looking through pieces of the ragged bandages over and around his face.  

Just as Slim began to feel relieved that Jess was speaking and sounding more like his old self, Jess, a little stronger and more concerned, said, "Hey, Slim, you don’t look too well." His voice began to fade again, and his body was shaking. He could barely open his eyes but he kept talking. "If you’re as bad off as I feel, I’d say we’re both in a lot of trouble. Speaking of trouble, Slim, did I tell you about the time I robbed the Cheyenne bank three weeks ago? You just got back from your buying trip this week, so you couldn’t possibly know. Right, Slim? … They put me in jail, and well, yeah, I did it. But I didn’t do it. I mean, they made me… But I didn’t like it one bit. But the judge said it didn’t count, since I was a prisoner of sorts. The eyewitnesses said I was a prisoner. They cleared my name, Slim and I’m really innocent. You understand, don’t ya, Slim? The judge said so Slim. Slim…?" Jess was gasping desperately now, but he kept on with his rambling unable to fully realize that he was bearing his soul. His strong body was now weak and helpless and he yielded as his sorrow burst forth. Like the water busting through a dam, in his feverish state, he finally released all his deepest worry.  

What little strength Jess had was draining from him fast, but still he faintly let the words continue to flow out: "It all happened because there was a huge price on my head for murdering the rancher I went to buy from. I didn’t do it, Slim. They were ready to hang me, so I high-tailed it. They shot me in the arm as I took off, that’s how I met her, Slim. I met Ginny. I had to tell you before someone else did, Slim, you know that. Don’t ya, Slim..? What if that bullet had killed me, in the bank? If it hadn’t hit me in my leg, you would’ve never known why I went bad, Slim. Buried in Boot Hill. Jess Harper, bank and stage robber. Did I tell you I robbed a Wyoming stage, Slim? Did I, huh? My name’s still good. Sheriff in Cheyenne said so. Mort said so, Slim. Slim? Slim? I ain’t feeling too good..." Jess started having dry heaves as Slim just stared at him, completely dumbfounded.  

"Jess, what in BLAZES are you talking about?" he spouted out shocked and surprised. "It’s not like you to ramble on." Slim, realizing how futile it was, stopped trying to make sense of it, and pulled himself together as he had many times in his life before. Right now, Jess wasn’t himself even though there was a moment or two when it seemed like maybe he was. Slim was beginning to understand now. He has a bad blow to the back of his head; I can’t forget that, Slim thought.  

He knelt down to his sick friend, watching as his eyes closed, and his body stopped heaving. Slim knew his fever was worse. The drenching that had shocked him awake was now hurting him. It’s the fever too, Slim thought, that’s why Jess is rambling out of his head. How long can he hold on like this, how long until help shows up? Slim held Jess and prayed. 

The sun was coming up warm, someone would know by now, and be on the way. Slim watched Jess. His breathing was weak but had settled. There was still an odd shake and twitching occasionally but for the moment he seemed stable. Poor Jess, Slim thought. His dream world of deer had turned into a bad dream this morning, and now he was raving about robbing banks and stages, bullets in his arm and leg, and someone named Ginny. Well, Jess was nearly right about one thing anyway. I may not be as bad off as he is, but I sure feel like it, but for a different reason. The sun was warming them now. It was time for Slim to do something. He knew he had to leave his friend.  

Jess awakened slightly. The sun felt good on his aching face, the air smelled fresh, and a slight breeze moved over him. "Slim? Slim?" he whispered. "Where am I? Slim, are you there, or am I dreaming?"  

Slim didn’t answer him and Jess didn’t know why. He tried to think a bit as to where he was, and decided he must be up where they were mending fences, but he felt so mixed up. Maybe this Slim and the fences were just a dream. He’d been so many places when he had been on the drift. As he felt the warm sun, he remembered Sgt. Billy carrying him on his back and thinking they had a good six miles to go. He remembered he’d been hurting, and Billy took care of him. They’d stopped during the heat of the day. But it wasn’t hot enough for him to be laying here in the desert. This ain’t right, Jess thought. Billy’s not here, but I can hear a horse. He tried to rouse himself more, and looked at the sky. It reminded him of the prairie. That must be it, I must be still lying here on the prairie and my leg’s broke, I sure can’t move none. Dad-burn horse took off looking for water after he throws me and now he comes back to visit. Sure wish he could have brought me some water back. He’s hanging around here somewhere, why don’t he just wander off so’s someone can find him and then maybe find me? How long have I been here? Nearly four days now? But my head wasn’t hurting like this on the prairie, or my face. I remember watching the clouds and that prairie breeze passing over me, but no trees.  

Jess felt like he had done all this before, some other time, some other place. Here it was hilly, with trees, and rocks…no, this must be real, and the other thoughts were of the past. The scenery made it clear to him. Slim and the fences were not a dream, he knew Slim. We were working on fences up here, here at the Rock-Cliff. I went down in the rockslide. Why isn’t Slim here to find me? Maybe he did find me? I could have sworn I was talking to him, but I can’t quite recollect about what. There was a fire, or, no, it was raining… His mind wandered and grasped at all kinds of thoughts that came and went, soon there was no reality to hold on to. As thoughts of laying on the prairie, before Roney Bishop found him, and his days in the desert with Sgt. Billy became meshed together, Jess was soon deeply lost in the middle of them again: I’m about ready to die, if no one finds me on this prairie. Can’t go without water a day longer. There’s no way I can get to my horse with this broke leg, aching so bad I can’t move. Billy’s risking his life for me. I told him to leave me be, but he just plain won’t listen. Carrying me on his back in this desert as if he was a pack mule or somethin’. 

Another soft breeze brought about some of his last thoughts as his world slowly began to darken again. This breeze is warm…hot sun. So why am I cold? Shaking? I just can’t stop shaking. These are pine trees around me. Where the heck am I? " Slim! …Slim?" This time as the breeze passed over, Jess drifted off with it as Slim’s name echoed through his mind.  

"Jess, can you hear me? Mose and Marcus are here, Jess. Jess? I went down the trail and they saw me. Daisy sent them. They brought the buckboard. They knew someone had to be hurt, or we would have come in last night. Do you understand me, Jess? We have help now.” 

Jess opened his eyes slowly, and tried focusing upward to Slim’s voice and very quietly said, "The breeze, Slim. There was a soft breeze near the creek where I met Ginny…the water tasted so good. She liked it. I need some water, Slim, not coffee. I think I was dreaming about coffee…but I can’t quite…"  

"That’s enough, Jess, stop trying to talk. Here’s some water. We’re going home now and then maybe you can tell me about this creek, and Ginny, okay? We’re going to have to move you now, okay? So be expecting it."  

Jess gasped deeply as they wrapped his shoulder closer to his body and began to move him. As they laid him in a blanket and lifted him into the buckboard, he never cried out. He was oblivious to their world, and their help.  

Marcus was young, and a little shocked at the situation. He had not said anything, but he first learned of Jess from the Cheyenne bank hold-up. He had been surprised to see him at the relay station, and watched him carefully. He remembered how the Cheyenne sheriff still had favor and trust for this man, and he liked what he had learned of him from Mose. He remembered Jess talking with Mose about the flowers, of all things, this fast-gun, Jess Harper. It was really hard for him to look at Jess now. 

Marcus tried to offer up some comfort with, "Don’t worry, I’m fast and good with a horse. I won’t leave you waiting for the doc too long. Hey, don’t worry none, okay? I’ll do my best." He saddled up with one last look back, and rode on ahead to go for the doc, with the image of the three friends preparing to leave still fresh in his mind. 

Mose helped Slim into the buckboard to be near Jess. He paused and looked at Slim and Slim could tell Mose was very upset. "Hey Mose…" Slim started to say, but was interrupted.  

Mose was beginning his story, as they were settling Jess inside the buckboard. "Slim, years back, when I was a kid, my best friend died when we was playing out near a rocky creek bed. He looked about in the same kind of shape Jess looks right now. He took a bad fall down onto the rocks. I thought I forgot it, but I guess I didn’t," Mose said. "Well, I just hope we don’t lose our friend, Slim, that’s all I wanted to say. I must have not wanted to remember all these years, but now I do remember, and I wish I hadn’t told you, Slim, but I had to get it out."  

"Don’t worry about it, Mose, that’s what friends are for," Slim said as he placed a hand on Mose’s arm. "I know how special your friends are to you, and I know how you feel about Jess." Slim just couldn’t let his friend Mose know that the story was too close to home and that he wanted to cry. Seems like I’m always meant to be the tall oak and bear the brunt of the storm for everyone, Slim thought, as he held back his tears. And I’d do it clear unto Sunday and back if it keeps helping my friends too, he continued. Tall oak, yeah, or "tall glass of water." That’s what Jess called me a few times. 

As they left for home, Slim held Jess’ hand. He watched his shallow breathing and began to let his mind wander. He thought about Jess’ ramblings from this morning. You know, he said to himself, in town the day before yesterday I almost thought I heard someone say a stage was robbed while I was gone. I was in such an all-fired hurry that I completely forgot to look into it. A man named Harper held the horses…Jeb, Jed… or sounded more like… JESS? 

CHAPTER TEN

A DAISY FOR JESS  

Jess had been laid up for two weeks so far. He didn’t remember much of it. He’d spent most of it partially conscious, or sleeping from the doc’s medication, since it was very important that Jess be kept as still as possible because of his head injuries.  

Now he was on the mend. The knowledge of this fact could be felt in the home, and by all of them. The atmosphere in the Sherman home was finally hopeful and happy. It was Sunday afternoon and Daisy and Mike had just come back from church. Jess could have sworn they had already come back hours ago, but that had been last week. It was all a blur to him. His friends that loved and cared for him the most came to see him, but he was never able to respond to them. The month of September had moved on and he hadn’t realized it yet.  

During that time, voices would fade and later return. He smelled chicken, like stew or soup. He smelled coffee and bacon. These things stuck in his mind. He remembered wanting to drink, but feeling the liquid spill over his lips. He was just too far away, and it never connected, but someone, somewhere, had been disturbed about this and was crying, and he remembered it bothered him. Soon he’d felt the warm liquid and knew he drank it, and it felt so good. Other times, he just didn’t remember.  

There was something Jess did remember though - singing. Someone had come in his room.  It must have been in the night, because there were no other voices. He wasn’t exactly sure who it was during those times, but he heard the singing in the back of his mind, bringing with it, thoughts. 

Daisy used to sing to the wounded soldiers in the hospital camps during the war. She’d sat near Jess’ side and sung to him at night, but he’d never been able to make out who it was. It had been Daisy, he was sure of it now. She would sing go-to-meeting songs and then Miss Essie’s singing would drift into his mind. He’d think about her, and how she talked with such pleasure about God’s love. He would remember himself singing in church with Ma. He’d taken to her real well, and he’d had fun singing. Some of the time he’d felt like he was still there, but then he would wake up and see Miss Daisy. She was also singing. His mind would grasp at memories, he knew her, he was sure of it, didn’t he? She’d smile…but he couldn’t smile back, he ached so badly, his head, face and chest. He’d struggled as he tried to find some kind of relief and Daisy had gently grabbed his hand and said, "Here Jess, drink this, it will help you. It’s time to sleep. Morning will be here soon and I have much to do, but I’ll be here for you. I need to go now and check on Mike, he’s still worried about you."  

He had also been vaguely aware of another presence in his room. Slim would slip in and read on the bed next to his, then Slim would gradually fall asleep. Jess didn’t always see him, but he knew he was there. There were other times though, when he was aware of Slim in a stronger way. It was by Slim’s voice. Jess would hear it wrestling with his thoughts when he was drifting in the darkness.  

He would win out some, and wake to hear Slim trying to educate him about the need for a real good ranch hand, or some such nonsense, and how he was supposed to get well and, and … something or other. He also would feel a smaller hand nestled in his when he smelled the bacon and coffee. It must have been morning, then, and a small visitor had been by his side. Now he knew that had been Mike. When he was really conscious for the first time, he had felt the hand leave his one morning. He had heard Mike’s voice yelling, "Slim! Miss Daisy! Jess is awake; he’s really awake! Come see!"  

He hadn’t faded out that time, and had waited quietly to see who would come. It had been so nice to see their smiles. Yep, he thought now, surely Miss Essie’s God had been trailing him for quite some time now… riding herd on him and always turning things out for good somehow. It would sure be good if he felt better any time soon. There was something very important he had to do. I’ll think of it when I wake up, he thought, as he began to doze off.  

This was how they spent the end of September. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER…LOST/FOUND  

For the last three days Jess had been staying awake longer, and thinking clearer. Medicine-time with Daisy was less and less and mealtimes were happening more and more. He was beginning to feel like himself again. 

Mike would come and spend lots of time with him, telling neat stories about little things he had been up to outside, but Jess would usually fall asleep soon thinking about lizards, snakes and turtles. It just seemed that any serious conversation time with Daisy or Slim seemed to get missed out on between her chores and Slim’s work but Jess knew he would soon have a solid steady grasp of the world again, and was looking forward to it earnestly.  

He had been meaning to ask Slim, how bad off he had been these last few days, but never got a chance. He knew, though. He thought he remembered some of his struggles up near Rock-Cliff, but it all seemed like a hazy dream. He did now, however, remember the time Pete had left him with a fractured skull, and that was sure no picnic. The doc then had said he was very lucky it was so slight, he remembered. It was a week before he was up and around, and another week waiting to take off after Pete. Good thing he’d been able to get into some poker games for some traveling money, or he might have tried to take off too soon and done himself some more damage.  

No more damage done though, Jess noted. Finding Slim was the best medicine for a man tired of getting knocked down by the wrong kind of friends. But this time - this time Jess knew it was a little worse. Guessing rightly about his fractured skull, he began to take inventory. He knew his shoulder was broke because of how it was wrapped up. He recognized his staved-in ribs, more serious than he realized though, and his aching face. So now, let’s see, Jess thought. That should add up to maybe two weeks laid up here and then it will be about the first few days of October…Ginny’s October. He smiled. Yeah, I should be up to courtin’ by then. He didn’t know he had already used up those two weeks and there were a few more due him.  

Jess did know he had been on the drift though. A drift of a different sort, but Jess still wasn’t aware the month had ended and was pretty much lost to him. He had felt himself drift before. He knew the feeling, from his near misses of the past, and he also knew that he didn’t want to drift any more. Not here, and not to the hereafter. It wasn’t the right time. He knew he belonged here, and he had fought the drift, just as hard as he had fought in the natural sense. If it was really time, he’d know when to accept what had to be, and yield. He’d meet it straight on as he’d taught himself long ago. Aw, heck, he thought, with Slim jawin’ at me while I was down and out, I couldn’t have drifted even if it WAS time AND I wanted to!  

Slim’s voice, the one that had kept him going, where was it? Jess began to wonder where Slim was. He listened to the sound of special voices, and knew that one was missing. It seems he wanted me to talk to him about something. Also seems that some of Slim’s nonsense-talk was about me waking up and explaining some things to him. I was trying to tell him about Ginny before our fence mending accident, but he wouldn’t know that. Or did I tell him? No, I must have been dreaming. But then there’s the Cheyenne bank. Jess began feeling a little sick and a little like he was sliding down into the cellar, busting through the door and all, but somehow it just didn’t feel quite as bad. Why? Maybe it was his surroundings. The afternoon light was changing, and evening would be falling soon. Jess looked around the room, soaking in every piece of furniture and fixtures. He remembered how these surrounding had come to be so special, from sharing the past years he spent with Slim as his friend. It was his room too, now. He had a room, and a home. It felt good to be home, and smelling warm food.  

The sound of the front door slamming jarred Jess from his thoughts. Heavy boots sounded and then Slim walked into the bedroom, grinning from ear to ear, arm in a sling and hat on his head.  

"Hey, Jess, did I ever tell you about the time my pard robbed the Cheyenne bank about five weeks ago?" he said loud and clear.  

Jess looked up wildly at Slim, and feeling violently sick for a moment shouted out a very feeble, "What?" followed by, "Well, how’d you know?" Then he meekly offered up, "Slim, I’m sorry, I was so dad-blamed ashamed. I’ve been wanting to tell you, but the cellar door’s been stuck an’ all, and I just couldn’t seem to get it out of me."  

Slim looked at him, "Jess, what cellar door?"  

"Aaaww, you know what I mean, Slim. And, anyway, it was more like three weeks ago. Why were you smiling like that, I don’t see nothing funny about it, Slim!" he said.

Slim sat down near Jess and laid his hands on his shoulders, "Hey, relax Jess, I’m sorry too. I wasn’t pokin’ fun. I just thought you’d be happy and relieved to learn that I finally know all about it. My feelings and respect for you haven’t changed on bit Jess. You handled it the best way anyone could have under the same circumstances, me included. The sheriff felt the same way, he told me so himself. Up at the Rock-Cliff you were real bad off and out of your head. You were rambling on like a river flowing down stream about all kinds of stuff that didn’t make any sense, but you were so sincere that I couldn’t get it out of my mind. So I rode into Cheyenne to see what I could find out. The sheriff told me the whole story once he knew that you had kind of told me yourself anyway. And you’re wrong. It was five weeks ago. September’s gone. Made tracks, Jess."  

"That means it’s Ginny now," Jess blurted out, half way shocked with disbelief.  

"Ginny?" Slim questioned. "You mean October, don’t you, Jess?"  

"Yeah, I meant October. But it can’t be, Slim. It just can’t be."  

"Well, Jess," Slim explained, "two weeks ago puts us back in the middle of September, and three weeks before that, was the last week of August. That’s five weeks, Jess," Slim said. "Even though it may not feel like it to you. These last two weeks you haven’t been well, Jess, you’ve been in a real bad way. By the time we got you here you were having some bad convulsions and coughing up blood. Daisy tried to help you the best she could, but you really needed the doc and she knew that. We had to leave you in the buckboard since there wasn’t enough of us to move you without Marcus." 

"Mose and I helped comfort Mike. He kept telling us that he knew how to be strong and be a man just like you taught him, Jess. You would have been really proud, Jess, if you saw him handle himself. Marcus and the doc got here awhile after…Mort was following right on their heels too! He knew Marcus left with the stage heading out here, so when he showed up and took off again with the doc, Mort figured something was really wrong out here. He stayed on for two nights, Jess, didn’t leave the room. He had to finally get back to town though." 

"Well, Doc said that buckboard ride sure didn’t help you any, Jess," Slim solemnly began, as he remembered the condition his partner had been in then. "Yeah, shakin’ up your head and your lung. It was damaged some too from all the broken ribs and the ride got your insides to bleeding worse." Slim went on to say, "fractured skull, ribs and shoulder, lots of blood loss from the back of your head, smashed up side of your chest and that long gash on…" Slim stopped talking, his face tensed up, then he looked softly and quietly at the side of Jess’s face.  

Jess looked up at him real slow and quiet. He had felt the bandages around his head and face. Whenever he’d tried to move his head, seeking comfort in his groggy condition, he had felt the ache on the side of his face too.  

"I know Slim…I’ve known for these last few days, no one needs to tell me. I’ve been trying to take inventory on myself." His most recent inventory had told him the bandages were a lot thinner and smaller, and mainly there for protection, while his face was on the mend. "Well, is it?" Jess said.  

"Is what?" Slim answered him.  

"Is it on the mend? My face?" Jess wondered as he questioned Slim. This was the part he had no answer for as yet, and had prepared himself for the worse. Jess was surprised to see Slim smiling.  

"Yeah, Jess. Doc said it’s a sure thing. But it will take awhile, Jess. Even after the stitches are out, you need to know, it won’t look too good for some time. Doc says it’s best you know right off; then you’ll be able to handle it."  

"He’s right on that one, Slim,” Jess said. "I just need to see good and clear what kind of hand I’m dealt, and I know I can play it just fine. I learned that on the drift. I ran into some real hard-to-handle troubles, Slim. I’ve had to plow through them the hard way at times, so I better know how to rope them in and brand them by now. Especially with me being a Sherman rancher and all," Jess said as he tried to venture a slight smile from that happy thought, which soon slipped into deep thought. 

Slim noticed Jess had gone a little quiet. We need a little fun, he thought. "Hey, liven up there, Jess! Doc said for sure it won’t end up in your collection bag."  

"My WHAT?" asked Jess, obviously puzzled, and earnestly not wanting to be left out.  

"Well, when Doc was working on setting your shoulder, he couldn’t help but notice all those bullet scars in your shoulder and your arm. He got to wonderin’ just what kind of collection you were making for yourself. He thought it looked a mite full. You know," he continued, "If you drew a line through those scars, you’d end up with the shape of a fish in that shoulder area. Now how about that, Jess, a jumpin’ fish. That’s when he explained to me about that gash you got on your face. He said that if there was any scar left from his handiwork, it would be so slight that it wouldn’t warrant going into your collection-bag. And when he left he suggested you try stamp collecting or coin collecting instead. He reckoned it would do your shoulder a lot more good!"  

Jess offered up a faint half-hearted smile, from watching Slim tell his story. "Well, maybe you had to be there," Slim said. "Well, I guess you were, but you weren’t really all there. I was so worried about you and that fractured skull of yours, that Doc used that story to try to cheer me up a little. But at the time, I think all I could do was muster up a little smile just like the one you have now."  

"Doc said my face will mend. Well then, that suits me just fine, Slim. Now I just won’t think on it much. Besides…" he hesitated. "I’ve got some courtin' to do, Slim. It’s Ginny now."  

"No, Jess, it’s October now," Slim corrected him, wondering if he should be worried about Jess’ slight confusion since he lost two weeks.  

"No, Slim, I got that part straight already. August, September, October, right?" Jess looked up at Slim and smiled - a good one this time! 

CHAPTER TWELVE

SLIM AND THE ORNERY, MANGY OL’ POLECAT  

"So, are you going to tell me about her now?" Slim said, "or do I need to find out which town I’ll be riding into next?"  

Jess looked up at Slim and smiled. "It’s Ginny, Slim," he said as he watched his friend's face. "Her name is Ginny Hawks," Jess continued, "and she’s the one I’ve been sweet on since I met her, end of August. She’s a real good girl, Slim. It’s a long story, and now that you know part of it, it’ll be easier to fill you in. September was our writin’ month. She’s been with the docs in Denver, working to help her see again. She was blind. And October is her month for me to see her real proper like - before winter. Can’t start courtin’ in the snow. Kind’a messy, wouldn’t you say? How do you like that, Slim? I’m going courtin’. Me, Jess Harper, after all these years. That schoolmarm didn’t count, you know. I had to quit before I ever got started, remember?"  

"Well, I’ll certainly be looking forward to that, Jess, when the time comes," Slim said wryly. "Because, if I had to choose between you and that moony-eyed heifer, I’d rather deal with a whole herd like her. From what I’ve seen of your brand of moony-eyeing, this whole month could be shot to pieces, too!"  

"You know, even her ma took a liking to me, and her pa is dead. He was the ex-lawman that kept me a prisoner with their gang. She has a trust in me and accepts me for who and what I am, my past and all. She knows I’m a fast gun, and had my scrapes, but she’s faced the same kind of things, herself, and some worse, too. That’s how she ended up blind. But, she had strength and a real gentleness to her just like she said she saw in my face when she felt it. Guess now, she’ll find a little something extra there, until this here scar heals up," he finished, with a slight nod of his head to the left side. "Course, she won’t need to feel my face this time, unless she wants to match what she saw then up with what she’ll see now."  

"I was just leaving that night, Slim, they hadn’t cuffed me to the bed that night, and I was going to high-tail it. I was there all ready to jump on a horse into the freedom of that cool night air. That’s when she heard me and called my name. She wanted to touch my face before I left. She wouldn’t come with me, and I just couldn’t leave her. We had a few real nice moments together then, Slim." After a pause, he added anxiously, "hey Slim! I’m going to need to have a shave!" He waited, then added, "what’s the matter, Slim? Ain’t I getting through to you? My face aches and it’s too sore to shave on that side. I can’t go seeing Ginny with only one side of my face shaved. I’ll look like a mangy ol’ polecat and with that scar peeking through it sure ain’t going to be a pretty sight as it is!"  

"Now simmer down, Jess, aren’t you forgetting something?" Slim said. "You’re not going to be fit for traveling for quite some time. By then, Daisy will help you shave. She’s been helping me until my wrist heals up. Take a good look at yourself, Jess. You can’t even sit up by yourself with those ribs and shoulder, and yet you’re fixin’ to ride off making dust. And courting your sweetheart looking like a mangy ol’ polecat, to boot. Sure don’t make any sense to me, Jess."  

Jess began to look a little desperate, and strength-wise he was sliding downhill fast with nothing to grab on to. The room wasn’t offering comfort at this moment, and he was beginning to feel trapped with no way of escape.  

"You get some sleep, Jess. We’ll work this thing out, I promise," Slim said.  

Frustrated, hurting, and without thought to who or what he fired off at, Jess reacted from the gut instincts that he could count on to keep himself riled-up when need be. "Slim, get some sleep you say? GET SOME SLEEP? Well just what do you think I’ve been doing here these last two weeks? And you say to get some sleep! Haven’t I had a long enough vacation yet?" He pointed at his chest and said, "You want me to get another bullet wound here, something a mite more complicated, so the doc can make a nice long scar here cutting it out, so’s my fish can have some water, huh? And me and my fish can be out sitting by the lake. Or maybe if the doc messes up a mite, that scar can be the Texas Gulf and me and my fish will just sit there a spell. Will that be enough rest for you, Slim?" Jess looked like he was about to cry and they found themselves just staring at each other in the stillness, Jess propped up on the pillow and Slim sitting on the edge of the bed.  

The room was still and quiet for quite a few minutes. The evening sun’s last rays had just about faded, and it was starting to get dark. The room soon felt calm and peaceful, as the presence of evening can bring on. "I’m sorry, Slim," Jess said. "I ain’t lookin’ to get shot-up anytime soon, an’ if I did, it’d have to be for a mighty important reason. It’s just that I’m hurting real bad, Slim, and not where it shows either. And I’m feeling real ornery right now, and you’re telling me FISH stories."  

Slim had heard that expression from Jess before - ‘not where it shows.’ "Yeah, Jess, I know, I really know," he answered back. His mind wandered for a second, back to another time when he had cared for Jess, in this same room. A night that Mort had brought him home injured from a fight. There were a lot of memories from this room, and this house. Memories of times when Slim had hurt for Jess, too…not where it showed… just like now. Slim hurt for Jess.  

"Slim, I promised her October! I gave her my word, Slim. October is her month. She had a lot of restin’ up to do with them docs getting her to see an’ all. When a man gives his word he’s not supposed to spend his time sleeping! It just ain’t right."  

"I know you don’t like it, Jess, but you’ve got realize you do still need to rest, getting all riled up sure isn’t the best way to get out of this bed. You know that don’t you, Jess?” Slim said as he sternly looked him over. “Oh, I almost forgot… had something here for you.  Thought it might be important.” Slim got up and lit the lamp, and as he sat back down he could see the strain on Jess’ face in the light. You know, you look awful tired now, Jess, so maybe I ought to give you this later. It was supposed to be a surprise. Daisy had it. It’s about two weeks old."  

"What do you mean, Slim, what is it?" Jess’ curiosity was slightly aroused. He seemed to perk up, with something new to think on, and tried to lean forward toward Slim.  

"It’s for your stamp-collection, Pard," Slim laughed. "It’s a letter from your Ginny."  

"Well, Slim, hand it over! You’d better open it for me first, though. Rip it with your teeth."  

"Rip a special letter like this, Jess, and get an unexpected dose of perfume? Oh no. You hold it and I’ll rip it. We’re pards; remember?" Slim said, with a smile.  

"You know what, Slim?" Jess said. "If Daisy came in just now, I think I’d feel more than a mite foolish."  

"Yeah, me too," Slim said, "We’re pards; remember!"  

After studying the letter awhile, Jess said with a low, soft voice, "Slim, I can’t read this." The paper began to feel odd in his hands, and he was wondering if it was even of any importance at all. He could polish his boots with it for all he cared as he stared at it.  

"I know, Jess, I’ll leave you alone with it. I’ll tell Daisy to hold up on your food another twenty minutes. I know you can smell it, it’s all through the house. She figured you must be tired of chicken soup by now," Slim laughed, "so she’s been cooking up a storm. I also think it’s her way of finally letting go of all that worry she’s had inside, too! She sure is looking happy again with you on the mend, and hey, you know we all are Jess!" Slim announced to him with a beaming smile.  

"No, Slim," Jess interrupted, "that’s not the thing. I really can’t read this. I just can’t seem to make no sense of it. It’s like some kind of branding symbols all over the page and I don’t know the ranches." With a hint of distress in his voice, Jess looked helplessly up at Slim, "I’m MUD-SLIDING here, Slim. Throw me a rope! Nothing like this happened to me even after Pete whacked me a good one on the back of my skull. Why, I even played some of my best poker then!"  

"Well," Slim said, "Doc was saying there could be some kind of side effects or damage to a man’s brain after something like this. Why, I lost you to the Panhandle up there at Rock-Cliff for a while. Time will tell if that damage gets worse or better, so the doc says. Your skull wasn’t cracked as bad as it could have been, so he’s hoping the worst is healed up inside. Doc figured you must have got hit from behind, rolling with the rocks. You had lots of bruises on your back, too. It was better for you, Jess, than if you had fallen headfirst down on those moving rocks. You would have really smashed your skull then, and probably wouldn’t be here now. Yeah, people can get all kinds of side effects all right. Bleeding in the skull, seizures, memory losses, blank staring, not understanding what someone says, mixing up sentences, some kind of word blindness stuff. Sometimes people have to pert near learn everything all over again, Jess. Doc was surprised you pulled through, Pard. You’re really lucky to be alive, and that’s a great start!"  

Thinking about the letter, though, Slim began wondering about that great start himself. Jess seemed to be thinking clear otherwise… "Hey Jess, do you think you can still count, and do figuring? You’re really giving me cause to worry Jess," he said with a lump in his throat. Slim meekly held out his hands up in front of Jess and stretched some of his fingers out. "I know it seems a little kid-like, Jess, but well… how many Jess?"  

Jess glared at him, still annoyed about the letter, and his newfound predicament. "Two Slim. Two, dad-burn it!" 

"Jess, look again, you’re way-off," Slim said and was beginning to grieve for his friend, who was just sitting there staring at a letter he couldn’t read, let alone answer.  

"TWO, Slim. TWO I said. Now ease off! I ain’t up to ‘jawin’ with ya!"  

"Jess, why…I got eight", Slim said.  

"Now Slim, I sure as heck don’t think so, and I reckon if you did, you’d look mighty strange with eight hands. And I reckon you only got two feet down there to go with those two hands. And that should equal up to about four, so I think my brain squares-up okay." Jess started to crack a smile, and then let out a laugh as Slim realized he had been had. Jess laid his head down into the pillow and grit his teeth, trying to stop the laugh, but it just busted out.  

"Okay, you win, Jess! I sure walked into that one!" Slim busted out laughing with Jess. It had seemed so long, so long …but now he was laughing with Jess again.  

Jess gasped and heaved in deep breaths as his ribs ached with the laugh, nearly bringing tears to his eyes. "Shucks, Slim," he said, "I didn’t know hurtin’ could make a man feel so good."  

As the laughter died down, and it became quiet again, Jess said, "Slim, she hasn’t heard from me in two weeks. I may not be reading or writing for quite a spell, and if and when I do, it will be a little too late. This letter you said was old, and that means she’ll be wondering why I didn’t seem to think it was of any importance to me. It’s October, and I’m supposed to be there. And I’m not. And she’ll be wondering why I didn’t feel inclined to be there… Even more than why I didn’t answer her letter. That could mean two weeks of hurt feelings for an innocent girl, and I’m still as good as snowed in. Stuck here in this bed. Now is that any way to start off my courtin', Slim? Dishin’ out hard feelings? I lost my September letter writing, and now for the next few weeks I’ll be looking at the four walls. I’m gettin’ snow stormed. And it ain’t even winter yet."   

"Jess, there’s a nice little office in town, called the telegraph office, remember? While you’re eating, I’ll ride in and take care of it. I make promises too you know, Jess, and you’ll get your October. And it’ll be nice and pretty, with fall leaves dancing around your head, too, and that’s a promise. Let’s shake on it; my shaking hand ain’t broke, now that’s a good sign for us. Okay, Pard?"    

"Okay, Slim," Jess agreed, "Okay," as he settled himself deeper into the pillows.  

"You know me, Jess, I’m a man of my word," Slim said earnestly.