"SO, MY GOOD OL' HORSE SENT YOU A MESSAGE, DID HE... HUH?"
By Neebeeshaabookway:
CHAPTER ONE: "I WAS THE ONLY ONE?"
Well, it was over for now--at least this part of it, so Slim thought, and rightly so. He'd uncovered the truth concerning the ambush and robbery of the cattle money, and all due to a halfway-bluff, exposing what he had suspected--McCambridge and his men were not involved at all. The ambush upon Jess and the men guarding the strong box, was not done by the John McCambridge's men in spite of the obvious push that had been aimed at them, as to be outlaws on a mission--it had been cleared-up right before the sheriff's eyes. And just as importantly, before one of Laramie's wealthiest rancher's own eyes, after he and his men had so vehemently accused the whole gang. None the less, "Mac" would be moving on, and the good work that he had sought to do for the ex-gunmen, was not to be--at least, not here, for now. Perhaps, to the northwest, though, as the rancher had suggested, as he had seen the errors of his ways--and he had seen loyalty. Something two of the men--the guilty party, had lacked.
Slim set to ride back home, but one large burden, was still on his mind:
I best be getting to home now and see how Jess is doing... it sure didn't look bad, but then, it didn't quite look too good, either. He was bleeding wrong somehow... didn't seem to just be a shoulder leak... I couldn't risk moving him, but I couldn't have, even if I wanted... and Jess knew that, just like a good soldier. There were men down, somewhere, and I didn't know how late I was, or even what I'd find.... I was hoping to save more lives, but it over before anyone had a chance. I got the doc on the way, right fast, being that he lives just before town and all, so that fell right into place... he was to take Jess home, being that it was closer. Sure was a good thing, too, or those men might have spotted them, and finished the job...don't know if they were in town, or on their boss's ranch, at that point . Good thing I pressed on when I did... but all I found was an upturned stage, an empty strong box, and... men dead. Finding Jess sure helped give me more to reckon with, when the time came to confront everyone. Yeah, there was no way "Mac" would have stayed, if his men did that. My gut-instinct set the freedom rolling for them, and before any shooting or lynching started. Yeah, it meant leaving Jess to trust me, but he knew full-well what I was doing, sometimes it's part of the job. It's hard for a man to realize that sometimes it's your part to do the finding and it's someone else's, to do the saving and fixing... but then I've run into that before A good soldier knows these things. Yeah, having a good head on my shoulders, is hard to owe- up-to at times... but I'm not complaining. I saved and fixed my part, and it was ready to bust-out all over my land. "Mac" has been a good friend for far too long, for me to have lost him in some no-account gun battle or a to a hanging-tree. Glad I knew how to pull-off a good bluff, too, as to Jess seeing, what I knew plain good and well, he hadn't... and then... as to his condition... well, THAT still remains to be seen..
Upon riding up, he dismounted and set his horse to post, and walked into the front room. Not fully being assured as to what he'd learn.
"Doc?"
"He's in there," he Jonesy answered, "he's washing up."
"So you and Andy are back from Aunt Ella's, huh?"
"Yeah, Slim we are... and look at what happens when we leave." He moved up close to Slim, "if you keep this kind of stuff up, me and Andy'll just have to hole-up here and grow old."
"You are old, Jonesy," Slim replied, as he approached the kitchen.
"See... see, I've got a head start... so you best take this all to heart. I can't spend my last days, guarding you boys." Jonesy put his arm on Slim's shoulder, and nodded with a simple soft smile, "but you know you can count on me to do so, Slim," his voice softened.
"Yeah, I know, Jonesy... I know a good bluff when I see one... sure am glad most folks, don't though." And thus he rounded the corner, as he heard his name:
"Slim? Come on in here... it was a long hard process, but I'm betting on his recovery." Doc dried his hands and Slim sat. "You know you did the right thing, don't you?"
Slim came near as the doc leaned on the sink--they'd soon move to the kitchen table, but not before the evening sun, as it fixed to set, had made a soft glow, across the top of his stove and the sink area. A glow that always signaled the days end, and a job well done.
Slim let a soft grin move upon his face now, "Well, I sure hoped so when I did it, as that was point, Doc. I had to leave him. I didn't have much choice, the way I looked at... I had to find those other men, they could have dying somewhere... but I was too late. And then as to Jess... when I found him, he looked too pale... something else was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it, I knew he'd be okay where he was... and you'd catch whatever it was, that I didn't," he stretched his arms out, and stared out the window for a second, "can I see him?"
"He's out, but go ahead." They moved to the kitchen, while Andy, being very quiet, set to watch them. Jonesy went to kitchen now, and worked on the evening meal. Andy just watched and listened, he'd learn a lot more this way, than getting shooed-off, if his anxious quiz-work came into play.
Slim satisfied his conscience, by taking a look at Jess, and came back out, taking a seat in a chair at the table, "So what made the hit so bad... it looks like you really did some work on him."
Doc pulled out the chair as well, and sat, "The bullet came down at angle... it was a real fluke the way it hit him, Slim. Down from the back, up high... and out through the front... they must have ambushed him from the hills, right?"
"Yeah, you'd make a fine detective, Doc. They killed all the men... all but Jess... he was the only one left... and I found him first. You know, if his horse wouldn't have showed up when it did, I might have been too late."
"Slim, he was bleeding bad, but more internally... that's why he couldn't move... he was far weaker than met your eye. You see the fluke of it all, was that the bullet hitting at that angel, it went in from the back, through the shoulder area. Now, the rag stopped the bleeding, but the bullet also hit near the collar bone, once inside and veered. You see, there was bone chips near a main artery... if you would have moved him wrong, some of the bone would nicked it and he'd have died long before you got him here. Seems in some way, you're the real detective," he nodded, with his own grin--and a grin that comforted Slim, as to having to leave Jess on the road.
Slim took a concerned look over at Andy, "It sure is funny how a man's decision, come back and prove his worth, afterwards," he nodded his head toward, Andy, "are you catching any of this Andy...?"
"Oh, yes Slim," he came closer now, and Slim took him under his wing--and a right strong arm-of-one, it was. "I've been studying all this... we sure didn't expect to home to find the doc here. Jonesy had me help some, too, Slim... and I made coffee for the doc, after. I'd say we made our own good decisions, too, Slim... really we did." Smiles from Slim came and smiles from Andy, met him back, and a young boy was now at peace.
"He won't be worth any talking-chores tonight, but he'll do fine now, long as you don't let him up... you best let him know why, or it'll not make much sense to him. Like I said, at first glance, it seemed simple... but he'll be putting two-and-two together, when he finds out how weak he is." The Doc was tired and it showed, as he moved slowly about the room, still in thought--perhaps as to his hard work on Jess.
"I've got a few more loose ends to see to... I may as well do it all now. There's a lot men-folk needing news sent to their families and such, so I better go see how it's going, or if the sheriff needs me..." Slim got up, setting Andy aside, as he down in his place, "Jonesy... I'll be following the doc back into town... I'll be here most likely just a few hours after dark... if Jess should wake up... whatever you do, don't go to feeding him any beef... not in soup, scraps, or worse yet, breakfast steaks."
"Beef? Breakfast steaks?" Jonesy stroke up the them, "Now Slim, why on earth would I feed breakfast steaks to a wounded man? Why, he'd choke on it! Where's your head, boy?"
"I'm just letting you know, for the week's agenda, as well, Jonesy... I know something you don't ... and if any beef shows up to plate, Jess'll most likely choke in more ways than one." He winked, and adjusted his hat.
"So you know more that me, do your, Mister know-it-all..." he mumbled, "why, I been taking care of you since you-"
Slim stepped up and rubbed Jonesy's shoulder, "Relax, Jonesy... it's an inside joke... take care, now, okay? And, remember, steer near to chicken soup if you know what's good for you," he winked again and smiled, as he took off with the doc.
Sun-up seemed to take a long hard night for Slim, being that the thought of so many men, dead, was near hard to fathom, along with the fact that McCambridge had missed the very same fate, but not by much. And Jess, why he'd lucked out most of all The men must have been so intent on halting the stage, that they saved their bullets for such--never checking on Jess, as they pursed the stage, leaving him, behind. Jess lucked out... the others... they never had a chance... cut down from up in those hills... and they took on the job with such confidence, too, never knowing they were soon to be robbed, and not by outsiders, but by ranch-hands... twice as sad for sure...
Come morning, Jess was waiting for him, and waiting for more information, information that carried more pain that he'd bargained for--with a weak voice, and not ready to move, Jess was moved to deep sorrow, and looked up at Slim, and acknowledged: "I was the only one left? I was the only one?"
And so it was that Jess Harper learned the details of what befell the brave men that rode beside him--their small group of special camaraderie in the midst of work and adventure--and he thus learned the details of the end of McCambridge's dream, one that Jess himself had not yet heard anything about. He mulled this over in his mind, little by little, as he recovered--it was the same kind of dream that he found himself living, in a sense, and all worked out for him, by the hand of Slim Sherman. A fine dream, it was, Jess now reckoned, and he was down-right proud of Slim. By the end of the week, found himself back on his feet, somewhat, and then out on Slim's porch, soon as he was able. He also found himself thinking about another man named "Mac" that had played a major part in his own life, even as Slim's "Mac", had set to help "men with a past", get their lives straight.
CHAPTER TWO: THE EVENING AIR, AND THE STARS ABOVE
Jess breathed in the evening air, as he and Slim sat on the porch. Andy was sleeping and Jonesy was pouring coffee, though Jess, with his arm still wrapped up, was feeling a bit stiff to mess with it. Leaning back in the chair, felt good though, as he tried to distant himself from the ache in his upper right shoulder and chest.
"See them stars up there Slim? A man can get mighty tempted to think he was born under an unlucky one, you know? Trouble is, there's so many of them up there, likely as not, trying to shoot it down, I'd hit the wrong one." He eyed Slim, "You know, Slim... it's just a saying... from what I can tell, my luck-of-the-draw had seen me through my bad times, and that's a fact. You finding me on the road at the right time, last week... and you not lugging me off to who knows where, first... and me and my big mouth too dazed and out-of-it, to not fight ya' so I could get on my horse... a horse that wasn't even there,'" he laughed somewhat--but just some--too much, was still too fresh. The memories of the adventure, and riding-high for a job-well-done, that he and others, were set to do, and the bitterness of death, instead, was not funny.
"Oh, I had help pard..." Slim sent out his easy-going reply, and even opened up some confession, "I have to admit... you were past due, and I was wondering where you were, but I heard hoofs and-"
"So my good ol' horse sent you a message, did he... huh?" Jess smirked.
"Yeah, he did... a bloody one, too." Slim kicked back and studied the night sounds, and took in a few stars of his own--along with some coffee. Seemed they'd not be sleeping tonight, they both so reckoned.
"You know, Slim, thinking on these stars, reminds me of something like this from years back... back before my name was cleared-up... I had to travel low, sometimes... there was a lot night travel, in many cases. The stars were my friends, along the way. Times when I had a good road, and was too near to town-folks... I was best to make tracks each nightfall."
"Did you stop a bullet then, too," he adjusted his gaze back to Jess, "is that the memory?"
"No Slim, in this particular case, no... but a good man did... and near about as to the same wound that I'm sporting now... and I was there for him, and did him a good turn. Seemed we were playing some sort of tag, or something, from that day forward. Now, as to how it started out... I first ran into him come early morn, one day... he'd been throwed by his horse, and was all hobbling-some... said he was due to be in town, and running late. I fixed him up, and filled his belly, and set him on a fine rock, while I hunted down his horse. Took him into town, too. We were still a day off, and by the time we hit town, it was nightfall. We took in a host of stars that night, and you might say, we had the first grounds of our friendship dirt-packed firm-and-stable to walk-long on, but I didn't see him after that. Never knew why, until later... after rumors moved through town."
The night sounds were just great, and Slim reckoned the stars from that night must have been even as clear and bright as they were now, but Jess was fixing to doze, and things were dulling down. Slim nudged him some, for a small test. "It's the pain medicine, right?" he looked up at Jonesy, being as Jonesy had just stepped outside.
"Nope... not this time, Slim... I'm thinking he's just wore out, is what it is, but he's due for some, though. I may as well take-in the story, too, if he wakes up... that way, I'm near-at-hand, medicine and all." Jonesy slipped into the house for it, and came back out, and pulled up and chair, and startled Jess, in the process--jarring him from this thoughts.
"I thought you were sleeping, Pard, and I was going to have to miss the rest of a good story," he laughed.
"Naw... I was just thinking hard, Slim. The man that I rescued, was in town as a witness for a trial. I learned he had some kind of clout... he knew the sheriff there, too... fact is, he shared with me, how he knew a whole slew of lawmen, and traveled to their offices, and transported prisoners. After I heard that, well, I made my self scarce... I didn't know how many wanted-posters he'd seen, and sure didn't want to find out. I knew mine was in some pile somewhere, and if he'd seen it, it was only a matter of time before he started thinking on me."
Jess tried for some comfort and Jonesy came to his aid, helping him sit better.
"Thanks Jonesy... well now, turned-out the very night I set to leave town, some men from that trial tried to ambush this man... turned out his name was 'Mac' too, Slim, and a true co-incident, it was. Yeah... Branch McGary... they tried to kill him, under the very stars we had such a fine ride-and-talk under." Jess was quiet for near too long again, and then said, "I gunned them, Slim... I had to... I gunned them down, and he witnessed the likes of my fast draw, and he knew... he knew I wasn't just some saddle-bum drifter. Well... he was hurt bad, and I knew not to move him. He wanted me to... he said he was used to making his way, but I'd have none of it. I've learned a thing or two, from witnessing far too many shoot-outs. I had to leave him and come back. You know, Slim... you been through it," he sent out a wry smile that made the night dance, and continued on, "well, naturally he wanted to know how I showed-up in time, and how come I had been nearby."
Jess stopped and motioned to Jonesy for some the coffee and Jonesy set to pour him some, as Slim and Jonesy perked their ears near as fine as any horse, and testing the night air for more story, and it came. "I told him straight-up that I had spotted the men playing cards and heard more than cards going down. I simply took to watching over a friend, was all, plain and simple. I went for the Doc and the Doc helped me haul him back. Slim, it was a long time before he was on his feet again, but our friendship took another long step."
The night stretched on and the coffee poured free. Jess was glad he made a move at taking some, it did him good, along with the evening air--and what did him better was sharing the story of an old friend. One that he ran into yet, again. But in another town--a town, and a story, that came-out the next afternoon, instead--and with an added surprise. Turned-out now, Jess, Slim, and Jonesy, took to traveling a mite too far into Jess's past-adventure this time around, and the stars turned to disappearing into the power of the bright-morning-sunrise, and Slim and Jonesy, took to taking Jess to bed. For a wounded man, recovering, he sure had been making tracks that night.
CHAPTER THREE: FAME - AND FORTUNATE
Afternoon chores being done, and Jonesy, setting up a bath for Andy, had led Slim to visit Jess, in the bedroom--where Jess was best suited for, if he truly sought not to ache.
And what more best suited thing to do, than talk. And what better talk, to have unfold, then more of Jess's bits of unwanted "fame" followed by his most "fortunate" ways of slipping-off into the night--and after many a good game of cards, to boot.
Thus, Jess shared how he came to know much more of Branch McGary, and who-and-what McGary really was--and all due to a cattle drive.
So--thus the story came forth:
A bunch of trail drovers, they were--Jess included. They were due to hit town and Jess was mighty glad of it--seemed two of the drovers had took to eyeing him far to much, since the last town they had passed through. The cows were delivered at local ranch now, and they were done of any more commitments, and after this well-needed break, he figured he'd move on--before sun-up if possible. He'd planned for a stay of a few days, but his luck seemed to have taken a turn somewhere, and he couldn't tag along with it, due to the dad-gummed cows and the pay he had been so desperate to get.
His last venture, at tracking Banister, had left him on empty--money-wise, and emotion-wise, as well. The drover-job was a great distraction, but turned-out it had now become an attraction--one as to the type where vultures set to gather. Sure enough, it seemed that if he didn't take care, two of them drovers would be leaving him to the buzzards, and an attractive thought, it was not. Lease-wise, in his eyes.
Jess kept an eye on them, but they'd become such a tight-knit group through the weeks on the trail, that the others were just not up to leaving him alone yet, and soon, some had followed him from a café, and later, others followed him to the general store and--a mixture of them had now followed him to the saloon. They split-up here though, and Jess chose a table back against the wall, though on the side near the swinging doors. It was mighty full-up in there that night, and he near would have disappeared in the room, if the drovers would just keep busy--but one kept seeking him out--and one he didn't cotton too.
Yeah, Harper... something's going down... and I've had my fill... reckon, I'm leaving right now..., his thoughts readied to spur him on--but just a tad too late.
"Say, Harper..." Crenshaw approached, "you know... you were mighty FAST on the gun, with that ol' rattlesnake... and I've been doing a lot of thinking on that."
"Yeah.?" Jess set to face him full-on.
"Yeah... a man don't get that fast, by chasing cattle."
"Yeah?" Jess furrowed his brow, and set out a long hard study.
"YEAH! What you got to say about that?" he peered deep and hard, right back.
"A man chasing cows better be fast on the draw, if he don't want rattlers chasing him, don't you reckon?" Jess glared back at him sharply, "or... if he don't want drovers hanging over his table."
The man backed off, and made his way back to the bar, and set himself up some more courage, with a good pour, and his buddies to bolster him, as Jess made his way to the door. He didn't get too far, as a voice hollered out:
"HOLD IT HARPER! I want to see you do your stuff... my buddy says you're a fast-gun... I missed out on that choice news, and I reckon it's nothing but HEAR-SAY! And, I'll take you for spin, if it means I get a reward! See... we got some good bets going down, that you just might famous some where... and we don't see much fame in our neck of the woods... fact is, the only fame we come across is folks that are wanted... and folks that take to passing through with us, to hide out... now what do you got to say on that, boy? And I got MORE to say, where THAT comes from, too," he looked back at his buddies and laughed. Yet, suddenly his buddies weren't laughing and the folks were backing up from the bar, and Jess was froze where he was.
"Stevens... YOUR DRUNK! ..." his brother ran up and pulled him back, as his eyes raced nervously to study Jess--only after sifting-his-way through much protest by Stevens, did the brother's pull, actually succeed.
By now, the Sheriff was coming in, and Jess moved out from his eye range and sat back down. The drunk man caused such a stir, and took to fighting the sheriff, that the sheriff ended-up hauling him in and never paid a mind to Jess. But Crenshaw was none too happy about it--he tried again, pushing Jess, as to his fast draw.
Still feeling edgy about the sheriff, and figuring if Crenshaw could just drink a mite more, he'd end up on the floor, on his own accord, and not by way of any gun play, Jess challenged him:
"If you feel like losing, mister, how about losing some of your CASH, and not your life," Jess hollered out, making sure to rake in witnesses.
Crenshaw laughed hardy now, "HA! SEE THERE... you only shoot snakes, see I KNEW it... and so you'll settle for cards, is it? Harper, you seen me pick them buddies of mine dry, with my card-skills... you're a DAMN fool, you know it?" he sneered. Sneering was all he did then (and not too well, as he had one lame-style, only) and the gun-play completely slipped his mind--seemed he set-up a right-fast game of cards, though, and Harper was going down, if he had his way.
Well--fine ol' Harper-fox that he was--Jess set up some bottles right-fast, and ol' Crenshaw was down-and-out before midnight. Face on the floor, he was, as Jess took a nifty step over him, and left, while his buddies picked up the winnings.
Hell, what's a loss in pay... if it means the sheriff's left me alone... and the drovers are all shut-up... dad-gum, this just ain't my night, I reckon... seems it all turned sour on me... and to make matter worse... someone's been following the trail-drive, as of the last town, and I ain't sticking around to find out who-or-why. He's bound to show here, and soon, even as WE have. Jess took off into the night, heading back to where he came from--being that moving on to the next town, farther east, meant traveling blind, as all that was before him in that direction, was thus-far, unknown to him. Leastwise, I know where to there's shelter and cover, should Crenshaw come looking for me. Most likely his brother may try to pull him back, but he won't succeed. Stevens sure can't follow, but I reckon he's doing me harm, in other ways... he'll be there most likely all day, 'til the sheriff checks him out, and he'll be spouting-off about me and my gun-skills. Yeah... I got to make tracks. Don't reckon they'd all follow me, but a half way split, it sure could be. A man sure could use an Ace in the hole, at a time like this.
He'd made a good few hours into the night, and settled down--he had to--his horse was due it. Long over due it, in fact--a f act he was not willing to ignore. Near before sunrise, Jess was off making his way a bit more along the hills, for cover now. Crenshaw and a handful of the drovers were on his tail--close buddies some of them were, and others were just egged-on by what they had heard from Stevens: Harper was WANTED. They'd make a mass effort to bring him down--after all, they reasoned, what was one fast gun, with them ready to drop him from ambush?
Jess was ready for them, but only as best he could be--that being, as to find shelter only. Now what, Harper? That other town's what did it... dad-gum... these cow-moving cities, with a big sheriff- office and all, full-up of wanted posters, no doubt... and three saloons... and too many big-mouths running around, I reckon... and I just bet I got a bounty hunter on my tail, too.
Jess's hard ride took him to the edge of the rocks, when he was hit, and hanging onto his horse, he made it up-hill only so far, and he fell--but the rocks were before him--though not the ones he needed. He'd be pinned here, and he knew it. His horse was off and running, as the shooting intensified. Bad luck, so it rightly seemed--and unlucky he was to join it.
Yep, but there was more, and he didn't know it--someone HAD been tailing Jess, since that last town, sure enough. And sure enough, it was due to the town having a big ol' sheriff's office... and a lot of wanted posters. Turned-out Branch McGary had been there--him and one his new deputies. The well respected "Mac" had a knack for spotting good men, while they were yet "men with past". Men that had made a mistake, and needed a chance to shuck-it-off. He'd made many a good honest deputy out of men he'd hand-pick--after first getting into their past, and getting it sorted out, and getting them pardoned. He was on Jess' tail, for such as thing, as that--and by a chance of luck, for such a time as this. He'd long-time-back, took to study that fast gun that had saved his life, and he'd hoped to one day find his trail again. Can't get much luckier than having him ride though town with a crowd of drovers, can one?
Well, now, ol' McGary had heard Stevens spouting-off in the sheriff's jail, but hadn't made his move to saying anything--being that, there was no need. Jess was gone. But he and his deputy had more than a thing or so to say, to Jess--and they were set to find him. Trouble nearly was, they never reckoned he'd be heading back the way he came from--thus, they nearly missed finding him And all due to the fact that--they didn't know Jess was wise to the drovers and trying to stay one step ahead of Crenshaw, and needing the shelter of the northern rocks, along the plains, that led to the other town. The town he'd been reckoned to want to avoid. They hadn't heard Crenshaw was after him--they only heard Stevens and his spouting-off, and figured Jess had left town on account of his being "wanted"--which truly was ONE of the reasons. Thus--when they left town, (trailing Jess, from the end of town where he was last seen riding, by the deputy's dutiful watch) they started out after him, just after the drover-gang. Neither, aware of the other. They trailed him, but upon coming to the fork in the road, they near took the one that led south. It was then that McGary spotted Jess' horse, and they made their move to fetch it.
"It's his horse... and there's blood on it... I'd say our man's found himself in trouble again... seems to be he has a special knack for it," McGary sighed heavy.
His deputy spoke up with their mission's high-hopes, and set forth this redeeming say: "but then that's what you're famous for, McGary... turning bad knacks around, right? And it's fortunate for him that he ran into you long-time back, or he'd not be so fortunate right now."
"Yeah, and he won't be, if we don't get moving," his face tensed as he fixed his eyes hard, and they set to ride.
Doing what stories do best, the story moved on--McGary, sure enough did get there in time. And it was a hard sad time for the drovers, only one was left standing by the time the tide of Jess Harper's luck had changed. The deputy had the man captured and fixed to horse, to take back. Jess was bleeding heavy from his side, but--turned out that the bullet had gone through and not hit any where vital, but Jess was breathing heavy and near ready to faint. One might just reckon he was seeing stars--though none being as to bad luck, nor good.
McGary set forth to check on Jess, and saw the bleeding, and he took his lighter saddle blanket and was making his move to wrap him up, yet, at first, Jess was near ready to fight the man off, not fully realizing what had happened, and how help had arrived, until he looked up into the face of Branch McGary. Relief flooded his soul. It was a friend, and not a foe:
"Well.. well... showed up without an invite did ya? How'd ya' manage that?" A big grin broke out onto his face--until he saw the well-shining, badge now crowding in on his joy.
Yep--more than a mite shocked, Jess then was. Branch McGary was a LAWMAN!
Some shocks don't last long, and that one, didn't (rightly-said) as Jess promptly passed out--but just after a few choice mumbles had slipped from his lips. Yet--not so shocked was he, when he woke up behind bars and right next to Stevens.
It didn't make him feel much better to know that Stevens was wanted, too. And, it made him feel far worse to know, that as soon as his bleeding was in check, he'd be being sent off to Prescott, to face charges of his involvement with a gang and their horse-rustling and robbery deeds--and, the law would be judging him as to whatever they "decided" he was guilty of. After they took who-knew-how-long, to figure it all out--perhaps meshing fact and fiction, and adding a tad of the ol' scape-goat stuff on, for good measure, and then, most likely a long prison term would manifest. A sorry way, for a young boy's coming-of-age, and manhood, to have now led-up to. That being the sorry-fact, that he'd be shut-up as: just another drifting fast-gun loner, at the end of his line. Well, all he could heave-up at this point, was a thankful sigh that it wasn't a hanging rope, as he'd had his fill of that.
After a major visit from McGary, Jess found out that his personal Harper-code, and the well-timed fame of his good deeds to one Branch McGary, had overridden his fame as the lawless fast-gun of Prescott's wanted-posters--and any other odd-assortment of wanted-posters still out on him. McGary had set-forth the hidden facts to Jess now, as to how he'd been searching for the lone drifter since he had saved his life, and had had no luck, thus far, until Jess had surfaced in the last town. Jess was most fortunate, indeed. Little did he know--papers of pardon, would soon be his.
"Oh, I'd sent-out as many notices to local Sheriff offices, as I could, saying that if they saw you, to send for me... I wanted you that bad... some notices just go into the garbage, though, Jess... reward-money is just too good to lose, sad but true, and I'm sure they thought I wanted it," McGary shared with him through the bars, as they got reacquainted in a very new way. "I've already been digging through your history, and we're set to get you pardoned."
"Oh, you think so, huh?" Jess chided him some, and then near felt ashamed and added, "you know... if it was anyone else, I'd have my doubts..." Jess sat there and shook his head just a tad, still not finding it easy to swallow and digest as to such a fact blind-siding him: "dad-gum, I never KNEW you were a lawman... and a territorial marshal, strong yet... dad-gum, I was really playing with fire, each time I ran into you, huh?" he smirked.
"Yeah, Jess... but a fire set to purge out the dross... how about it? Think so?"
"Yeah... 'Mac'... yeah, I'm ready... what better chance will I ever get... I've had no one in my corner all these years... and a host of folks after may tail. And now I've got a best buddy that's a high-upstanding-lawman," he grinned, ignoring the pain of his wound, "and he's aiming to rescue ol' Jess Harper... ME!"
"Now, you just stay put," he winked, "and get well... by the time we're ready to finish this up, you'll be ready to travel... and remember... any time, Jess... you name it... you got the option to be my deputy. This man here, he's just another example of a man-with-a-past, and now... he's got a new future. I'd say he's the best deputy I've ever had, but then, they all are," he smiled, as Jess took to trust him.
Well, it was quite some story-- And Jess finished-up for Slim, just as the sun's rays were setting in the bedroom:
Slim took to thinking on the rays that had set, on the memory of the doc, by the sink, from the week before. Doc had been right, Jess was healing-up fine-and-dandy. Seemed it was just a tad past supper though, and hunger pains were setting in, more so for Jess than him, and he made a point of complaining to Slim--and, Slim was glad of it.
Jess was near ready to doze off again, 'til some kind of supper should manifest, so he said, when Slim heard him mumbling.
"What was that, Jess... Jess?"
"Nothin', Slim... I must have been talkin in my sleep... I was just remembering somethin' real choice that I said to McGary, that day, is all... seems you and him, got a lot in common, due to this ONE heavy fast-moving fact."
Slim left the room, wondering what the heck Jess was mumbling about, that was so "choice"--he'd never met nor heard of McGary, and couldn't fathom what they'd have in common--him, being a rancher and all, and McGary, a territorial marshal. Preoccupied he was, as he ran smack into Jonesy, and fumbled out the supper request, on Jess's behalf.
Right-fast, Jonesy was doing his duty, for their wounded charge, and Slim came in, along side, to help Jess sit up:
"Here, you go Jess..." Jonesy coaxed him with the tray, as even Andy, peeked in.
Jess turned, half asleep, and spouted out wryly, as if still lost in his story, "So my good ol' horse sent you a message, huh... did he?"
Jonesy picked up on it fast, "No.. no I reckon not son... but ol' Slim here, eats like one, and he's the one that sent for me."
Right about then, Slim busted up laughing, as he remembered their talk on the porch, and Jess's words in regards to his bloody horse that came traveling home.
"You know, Jonesy... that McGary, must be one fine lawman!" Slim boasted.
Jonesy, having settled Jess into to his soup-chore, turned and pondered, pushing his thoughts-to-speech, "and why's that, son?" he questioned dryly.
Slim, grinned richly, leaning back, folding his arms, to chest, and spouted out, "'Cause, I just learned we've got a lot in common, Jonesy. A LOT in common," he leaned back on the doorway now. "A whole four-footed horse-load, from what I've just heard!"
And Jess--having realized what he'd spouted, set forth to eat his soup, with a right-good smile, as he invited Andy to sit, and join the fun:
It sure felt good to have friends that had so much in common--and ones that understood such choice horse-statements, as well--and, it sure felt good to be alive.