Laramie Story by Patricia, Laramiekid_2000

"Stage Stop: My Own Version"


Dust flew as the stagecoach traveled the winding road. Mose Simmons had worked for the Overland Stage Line for almost 5 years. He had made the trip from Medicine Bow to Laramie so many times he had lost count. Just over the hill was the Sherman Ranch, the last stage stop before reaching Laramie. Usually this stretch of the trip was peaceful. But today Mose's
eyes continually darted from the road to the woods and back to the road. Back and forth his eyes traveled.  Suddenly what Mose saw in the distance made his heart race as fast the horses galloped. He slid his foot so it was touching the shotgun that he always kept  hidden on the
floor of the stage seat.

The Overland Stage always stopped if someone needed a ride. But for a split second Mose wanted to pass by this stranger. "Stopping!" he called over his shoulder, wondering if the passengers could even hear him. The horses slid to a stop, just inches from the cowboy. If their closeness startled this cowboy, he never showed any fear.

Judging by the stranger's looks, this was no ordinary dollar-a-day cowboy. He wore his gun low on his hip. Though his face was friendly, his hand stayed close to his gun. It was not the stranger but the stranger's gun that drew Mose's attention. Mose would bet his last dollar that this was a man to be leery of, even though he looked to be only in his early twenties.

"Trouble?" Mose asked.

The cowboy gave a slow  nod. "About a mile back a bear frighten my horse. Been on foot.
Enough room for me to ride? I'll ride outside."

"Ain't hauling many pasengers this run. You can ride inside."

Both heard the cuss word from inside the coach.

"Throw your saddle on top then get inside," instructed Mose.

Like a born athlete, the cowboy tossed his worn saddle on top of the stage.

"You don't have a guard riding this run?" the stranger asked.

Mose hesitated, then replied, "He got sick at the last stop. Had to go on without him."

"Want me to ride up top?"

Mose spit into the dust. "Thanks but against company rules Besides I got me a friend here." Moses picked up the shotgun with lighting speed.

The stranger offered a quick grin. "Well wouldn't want to come between you and your friend."

As the stranger opened the coach door, it was as if he had allowed an arctic wind inside the coach. The stares he received from the passengers were cold. Icy cold. The stranger offered a slight nod then settled on the hard wood seat. Immediately the stage coach began rocking as the horses took off in a gallop. Dust flew through the windows almost chocking the passengers.

"I'm Sheriff Corley," the older passenger introduced himself.

The stranger identified himself, "Jess Harper."   But it wasn't the sheriff Jess was watching. It was the  man sitting beside the sheriff. This man's hands were shackled in irons.

"This here's my prisoner," the sheriff informed. "Ray Calhoun."

"Heard of you," Jess acknowledged.

Ray grinned as if greeting a friend. "Reckon you have."

Jess's eyes fell to the shotgun. The sheriff nestled this weapon as if it was a woman.

"Sheriff is expecting trouble," Ray informed with a laugh. "You look like you're no stranger to trouble yourself."

Jess's lips tighten as he glanced away looking out the window at the passing scenery.

"You look familiar," the sheriff said. "We ever met?"

"I've been a lot of places, " Jess replied.

"I know I've seen you." The sheriff suddenly pointed the shotgun at Jess.

Jess slightly raised his hands as if surrendering.  "I'm no longer wanted, Sheriff."

"I've seen the wanted posters."

"I've got my papers. Signed by a judge. Want to see them?"

"I expect I better," the sheriff answered.

Ray studied Jess as the sheriff studied the papers.

"All right, Harper." The sheriff handed back the papers.

"Harper," Ray mumbled. "Jess Harper. Now I remember." Ray's voice fell off but there was no missing the admiration. "I've been trying to place you.  Abilene wasn't it? You shot Chet Stevens. He was fast but you..." He softly whistled. "The way I remember you killed Chet because he insulted a woman...weren't even a lady. Just some saloon whore."

"A woman's a woman," Jess snarled.

Ray laughed. "Don't mean to get your dandruff up. Just remembering that's all." Ray's eyes darted to the sheriff. "Good company we've got, Sheriff. This boy here is one of the fastest guns I've ever seen. You know, Harper, the sheriff has been worrying this whole trip that we
might have company. Why seeing you, the sheriff might think I hired me a gun man to assure my release."

Jess glanced at the sheriff.

Beads of sweat broke out on the sheriff's face.

"I'm not looking for trouble," Jess assured.

Ray laughed loudly. "Then boy, you shouldn't have got on this stage." Ray leaned back and closed his eyes.

But Jess knew this man wasn't sleeping. This prisoner was alert. For the rest of the trip no one spoke.

The relay station was only a log cabin and a barn. Only a month ago Slim Sherman had been awarded the contract to run the relay station. Without this contract his small ranch would have gone under. He had made some improvements but still lacked the funds to make as many changes as the place needed.

Slim took a long sip of coffee. "Reckon Mose will be any time."

A young boy, no older than thirteen,  sat in front of the fire, watching the flames. "Slim, you reckon tomorrow we can ride into Laramie?"  He turned excitedly and smiled at his older brother. "Slim, I  heard Calhoun killed seven men. His trial starts tomorrow and I'd sure like to see it."

Slim frowned so hard that his face looked cracked. "We've got too many chores to be riding into Laramie for some trial."

"Aw I never get to go anywhere," Andy argued with a pout.

Slim sighed. "Andy, you know with the ranch and now the taking care of the stage that we've got chores we have to do."

"But Slim," Andy argued, "for just one day couldn't we go in town? I bet everyone's going to be at the trial. All the things they say Calhoun's done. Wouldn't you like to just see him?"

Slim grunted his disapproval. "There's a lot of things I'd like to see in this life. A killer ain't one of them."

"You know, Slim, I've been thinking. The sheriff is bringing Calhoun to Laramie. Do you think he might bring him by stage?"

"I don't know. And I don't care," Slim replied sounding gruffer than he meant to. "All I care about is what the stage line is paying us to do. Get the horses changed and the passengers fed."

"Boy, that would be something if Calhoun was on that stage."

"Listen Andy, if Calhoun is on that stage," Slim pointed his finger at his brother, "you stay away from him. He's a tough hombre."

Andy nodded. But his face was flushed with excitement.

"Now we better get out there and make sure those horses are ready. The stage line isn't paying us to dally."

"Dally!" Jonesy cried out as he entered the room from the kitchen. Jonesy was much older than Slim and Andy. He wore an apron that was spotted with floor.  "Maybe some of us have been dallying." His eyes darted from Slim to Andy.  "But not me. I've been cooking all morning
just so the passengers would have pie."

"Pie!" Andy drew near Jonesy. "Say Jonesy, I don't suppose I could taste that pie. Sample it to be sure it'll taste good to the passengers."

"Oh it will taste good," Jonesy snapped back. "No, I'm saving this pie for the passengers. Of course if two people who I won't name would get their chores done I might be of a mind to give them a nice big piece of pie when the chores are finished.."

"Come on, Slim, we got to get the horses ready. Stage will be here any minute. Now you be sure to save me a piece of pie, Jonesy." Andy was out of the cabin in a flash.

"Jonesy, I don't know how you do it. When I ask him, he gets all angry. When you ask him,
he runs to do what he's suppose to do."

"Well I did offer pie. You know, Slim, it wouldn't hurt to let the boy visit Laramie every now and then. It's lonely here on this ranch for him."

"Well...I don't think a trial is a good place for him. But maybe next week I'll let him ride in with me to Laramie when I got get the supplies."

Slim turned to leave but Jonesy's voice stopped him. "I uh couldn't help hear Andy ask about Ray Calhoun. Slim, do you think the sheriff will try to get Calhoun to Laramie by stage?"

Slim glanced over his shoulder. Certain Andy was no longer in hearing distance, he said,
"Well to tell the truth, the sheriff is using the stage to get Calhoun to Laramie."

"I knew it! I knew you were worried about something. You've been jumpy all day. He must be on this run huh?"

Slim sighed. "I admit I'm worried. Line supervisor came by the other day to tell me. Though if there is trouble I figure they'll try on the trail and not here where we stand along side the sheriff. And this stage ain't one scheduled. So not many know about its run."

"All it takes is one person telling that the sheriff sneaked Calhoun out of jail and we'll have this territory filled with men hoping to stop Calhoun from being hung. I've heard his brother has hired gun men to make sure his brother never reaches Laramie."

"That's why I want the horses changed and the sheriff and Calhoun fed quick like. Of course with your cooking they'll likely to eat quick."

Jonesy face registered that he wasn't sure if that was a complement or an insult. But before he could reply, Slim had left the warm cabin for the cold windy outside.

The stage came to a stop right in front of the cabin. Even before Slim got close to the stage he could tell something  was wrong.  Mose was frowning and shaking his head. Waving his hand in greeting, Andy started for the stage.

"Andy, go help Jonesy," Slim instructed.

Andy turned with a question on his face.

"I gave you an order," Slim added.

"But Slim I always help with the changing."

"Not today."

"He's on this stage, ain't he, Slim?"

"I done told you to go help Jonesy.  Now get inside the cabin."

Andy's lips tighten in protest but he walked away, heading back to the cabin.

"Good trip?" Slim called up to Mose though he could already see the answer on Mose's face.

Mose only grunted a reply.

"Well Jonesy has hot coffee inside and he baked a pie."

"Finally some good news!" Mose jumped down from the stage seat, hitting the ground hard.
"We got an extra passenger. Looks professional."

Slim opened the door for the passengers. The sheriff pushed Ray forward. "Hurry up!"

"Easy sheriff," Ray protested. "Only so fast a man can move with these handcuffs on. Why don't you take them off me? I ain't going to try anything. Not with a gun man like Harper around."

Jess was the last one off the stage. Slim's eyes turned hard as he watched this man.

"There's coffee and food inside," Slim offered the passengers.

The sheriff pushed Calhoun towards the cabin. Jess mumbled, "Thanks," then headed for the cabin.

Slim turned angrily towards Mose. He spit his words out like he was throwing rocks, "I thought the plan was not to carry any passengers on this trip. Just Calhoun and the sheriff."

"Just happened on him on the trail," Mose explained. "I couldn't leave him there. You know stage policy."

"He was waiting for you?"

"Said his horse was frighten by a bear."

"Ain't seen no bear around here in two years."

"You know, Slim, Calhoun's brother has men spread all around trying to stop the sheriff from getting him to Laramie. Once in Laramie Calhoun's going to hang. Ain't no jury going to find him innocent. Surprised the sheriff got him this far. Pretty smart of the sheriff to meet the stage on the trail. The sheriff sneaked Calhoun out of town just after midnight. I know  we ain't a scheduled run so no one was expecting this stage. Funny though about that stranger. Him being there. Almost waiting for a stage to come by."

"Figure it wouldn't been long until they knew the sheriff and Calhoun had left town. They know where he's heading. I'm going keep my gun handy, Mose. You best do the same. I don't trust that saddle bum." Slim turned. Jess was standing there, staring.

"Need to get something out of my saddle bags,." Jess explained.

Mose and Slim glanced at each other with uncertainty.

Jess climbed to the top of the stage. By the time he had climbed down, Slim and Mose were inside the cabin. Jess lit a cigarette and took a long smoke. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. With panther quickness, Jess turned, at the same time aiming his gun.

Andy froze, his face losing all color.  "Golly Ned, mister! I don't mean you no harm."

Jess let out a long sigh. "Didn't anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on a person?"

"I ain't never seen anyone draw that fast."

Jess sighed again. "Next time let someone know you're there. You'll stay healthier that way."

"You're a gunslinger ain't you?"

Jess's eyes hardened. "You'd think you were a tender foot asking a man a question like that. Now I know you ain't no tenderfoot."

Andy smiled shyly. "No sir, I ain't"

"And I ain't no gunslinger."

"I'm glad. My name's Andy Sherman."

Jess finally grinned. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Jess. Jess Harper." He held out his hand.

Andy's smile filled his face. He pumped Jess's hand as if he was pumping water. "Glad to meet you. You going to Laramie?"

"Looks like it." Jess lit another cigarette. He leaned against the stage.

"To see the trial? That's Ray Calhoun traveling with you, ain't it?"

Jess nodded.

"They say Calhoun going to hang."

"They say that huh?"

"Sure do. He's killed seven men. The last man he killed was the town's banker. This time there was a witness. Calhoun's going to hang for sure."

Jess's eyes surveyed the place. "Nice spread."

"It's  all right. But me, I want more."

Jess pushed back his hat revealing dark hair outlining a tan face. "Do you now?"

"I aim to do me some traveling. I bet you've seen places. I sure would like to get off this ranch.  See some of the world. I ain't never traveled further than Laramie."

"Oh I don't know. This place seems like a good enough place to stay. Lots of grass for cattle. This is your brother's spread, huh?"

Andy's chest seemed to thrust forward. "Me and my brother Slim run it together." Andy's eyes suddenly clouded with tears. "My Pa died a few months ago. Bushwhacked. Had some trouble with a rancher trying to run us out. But we stayed."

"So just the two of you run this place all by yourself?"

"Sure do. 'Course Jonesy's here. He does mostly the cooking and cleaning. Was my Pa's best friend."

"Pretty big spread for just the three of you."

"We manage. I may be young but I do my share. I do a man's work."

Jess smiled. "I figured you do, tiger. Just meant that I thought your brother would have some hired hands on this place."

"Can't afford them. That's why Slim does the stage work. Extra money. I wish we did have another person here. Slim works awful hard."

"Andy!" Slim called out as he approached them. "Jonesy needs your help inside."

"Slim, I'm talking to my friend here. Surely Jonesy can wait."

Slim neared Andy. Slim's cheeks were flushed with anger. "No he can't. Now don't argue with me. I gave you an order. You best do what I say or-"

Jess suddenly moved close to Andy. "Don't be thinking you're going to hurt the boy."

"You stay out of this," Slim warned.

Jess's muscles tensed as if ready for a fight.

Slim's eyes stayed glued on Jess as he said,  "Now Andy I expect you to do what I say."

Andy glanced at Jess. He hesitated a moment then said, "I'll see you inside, huh, Jess?"

Jess nodded.  "Save me some food. I'm hungry."

Andy grinned. "Sure will! And we have pie too! I'll cut you a big piece."

"Thanks, partner."

Slim did not follow Andy into the house. "You're asking a lot of questions."

"Just being friendly to a kid." Jess took a long drag then dropped the cigarette.

As Jess started to follow Andy inside, Slim stepped in his path. "You remember that. He's only a kid. A good kid. You stay away from him."

Jess looked taken back. "Look mister, you got it wrong. Those questions I asked. We were just passing the time."

"I know your type."

A guarded look crossed Jess's face. "And what type would that be?"

"From the way you wear your gun, you've killed. My guess is you've hired your gun out. You're a drifter. You go from place to place, gun job to gun job. We don't want no trouble here. But I'm warning you, I'll protect Andy from your kind."

Jess's hand dropped to his gun, then slowly raised to his belt. "All I want, Mister, is a good meal." Jess pushed past Slim and entered the log cabin.

Inside the cabin, Jess sat down across from Ray as the sheriff paced back and forth as if he were a caged animal.

"Relax, Sheriff.  You look like a man expecting trouble," Ray said with a large grin. "What do you think, Harper, will the sheriff get me to Laramie? I'll give you five to one he doesn't."

Jess didn't reply. Instead he bit into the beef. It was tough. But the pie tasted like heaven.

"Thought you might like another piece." Andy handled Jess a second helping of pie.

"Well thanks, partner."

"Bang!" Ray suddenly shouted out, as he pointed his finger at Andy as if shooting a gun.

Andy jumped with fear then turned beet red.

Ray laughed loudly. "Did I scare you, kid?"

"No..o. I ain't scared of you."

"You know who you ought to be scared of?" Ray motioned towards Jess.

Jess slowly swallowed the pie then looked up at Ray. "Mister, I don't like people talking about me. And I don't like them scaring kids."

"Come on, Harper, I was just teasing the kid. I was just having some fun."

Slim entered the cabin as if a man on a mission. "Mose, the horses are hitched."

"Ain't never seen you do it so fast, Slim."

Without a word said, Slim's expression told Andy to move away from the table where Ray Calhoun sat. As Andy started to leave,  Jess said softly, "Boy, the pie was good. Thanks for the second helping."

"I hope that wasn't all of the pie," Slim mumbled but everyone heard.

"That was the last piece, Slim," Jonesy answered, his eyes on Andy, not Slim, "but don't you fret, I'll cook you another pie. And you can eat it all yourself."

Mose stood. "Folks, I reckon we best go."

Sheriff grabbed Ray's arm. "Come Calhoun. I'm going get you to Laramie before anyone knows your gone from Medicine Bow."

Andy cried out with pride, "Don't you worry about that, Sheriff. I see Jess draw outside. Ain't none faster."

"Sheriff, you want me to ride with you?" Slim offered.

Jess turned in his chair and eyed Slim with a look that would have startled most men.

"No thanks, Slim" the sheriff replied as his eyes glanced suspiciously at Jess. "Let's get going.
I want to get to Laramie before nightfall."

Jess took one last gulp of coffee.

Andy opened the door. "I'll walk with you, Jess," Andy invited, his eyes daring Slim to stop him.

The bullet hit the door splitting the wood. Jess reacted first. He grabbed Andy and threw him to the floor. He covered Andy's body with his own. Another bullet smashed into the floor just inches from their faces. Jess slammed the door shut with his foot.

The sheriff pulled his gun then ran to another window.  Slim grabbed his shotgun that hung over the fireplace.  He raced to Andy. "You all right?"

Another bullet fired. Jess covered his face as glass flew. Mose screamed with pain. Jonesy
ran to Mose. "Easy, Mose."

Suddenly there was silence. Jess cautiously glanced out the window.

"Answer me, Andy. Are you all right?"

Andy nodded but fear shone through his eyes.

"Stay down," Slim ordered. He neared Jess. "You see anyone?"

"No."

Another bullet slammed into the house causing both men to jump back from the window.

"That came from over there," Jess observed. "Behind those trees."

 "And I see a man over there. By the corral," Slim pointed.

"I count two."

"No three," the sheriff corrected. "I see one by the barn."

One of the men yelled out, "Sheriff, we want Calhoun. Send him out."

Ray spoke up, "Sheriff, looks like my friends have come a calling. Why don't you let me go so these good folks don't get hurt?"

The sheriff turned to reply but said nothing as a bullet tore into his side, spinning him before he crashed to the floor. Slim rushed to him. "He's hurt. Pretty bad."

"Look, just let me go," Ray argued, "and no one else will get hurt. I promise." He started to stand but stopped as Jess pointed his gun at Ray's chest.

"You sit back down," Jess commanded.

"This isn't your fight, Harper," Ray warned, his voice snarling with anger.

"I'm making it my fight."

"Why? You ain't no stranger to the hoot owl trail."

"I said sit down!"

"I can pay you."

Slim glanced warily at Jess.

"I can offer you a lot of money, Harper. And my guarantee you'll ride away from this."

Slim's hand tightened on the shotgun.

"One thousand dollars," Ray bargained. "You'd have to work a month of Sundays to get that kind of money. And you have my word my men will let you ride away."

"That's a lot of money," Slim said as he quietly moved closer to Jess.

Without warning, Jess fired his peacemaker. The bullet passed so close to Ray's head that for a moment Ray thought he had been shot.

"I'd rather do business with the devil himself," Jess stated. "Now sit down."

Ray threaten, "You'll pay for this, Harper."

"The next bullet will be in your leg. So sit down before I lose what little patience I got."

Ray sat so quickly that his chair swayed, almost tipping over..

Jess turned towards Slim. "The lawman going to live?"

Slim's relaxed his grip on the shotgun.  "Maybe. He's lost a lot of blood. Jonesy, why don't we take the sheriff into the bedroom and see if you can patch him up? How about Mose?"

Jonesy helped Mose to his feet. "In the shoulder. Mose, can you walk to the bedroom by yourself?"

"Of course I can walk," Mose snapped. "But I think I should stay out here. I can still fire a gun."

Jess glanced at Slim who nodded. "Mose, you stay in the bedroom with Jonesy. There's a window in there. That way we got all the windows covered. Jonesy, let me carry the sheriff. I know you got a bad back." Slim was only gone a short time before he returned. Jess greeted, "How much ammunition you got?"

"Not much. I haven't had a chance to get into town."

"Slim, if they get smart. They could burn us out."

"I wish I could get Andy out of here. Hide him somewhere."

"Root cellar?"

"Don't have one."

"You boys look worried," Ray tainted. "You should have taken my deal, Harper."

Jess turned with fury. "You say one more word, I swear, I will shoot you."

"Easy, Jess," Slim cooed as Ray pressed his lips tightly together. "How many bullets you got left?"

"Four."

"Here." Slim handed Jess five more bullets.

"This is it?"

Slim nodded.

 Ray laughed.

"Don't you worry, Calhoun. I'll save my last bullet for you, " Jess promised as he reloaded his gun..

"You know," Slim said thoughtfully, "if I could get out the back door, circle around, and get behind that tree by the hay wagon, we'd have them in a cross fire."

Andy entered the room frowning. "Slim, you could get killed."

"Andy, it might be our only way."

Andy's eyes watered. "I don't want to lose you, Slim."

Slim drew near his brother. "I feel the same, Andy. But it might be our only choice to get out of this mess."

"The kid's right," Jess cut in. "It should be me not you that tries."

Slim started to argue; but Jess interrupted, "You got the boy to think of. I've got nobody that'll cry at my funeral."

Slim held out his hand. "I'm hoping I'll see you when this is over."

Jess shook his hand. "I aim to live through this." Then Jess was gone.

For a several minutes there was silence. Then without warning gun fire. Then again silence. Slim had counted six shots.  How many Jess had fired, Slim couldn't tell. He saw movement, it was Jess. Slim carefully aimed his gun. Jess purposely showed his body. One of the gun men raised to fire at Jess but Slim shot first. The gun men fell as Jess quickly ducked.

"Two to go," Slim mumbled. "Come on, Jess, get to the hay wagon so we can get them in a cross fire."

Again Jess showed his body. But this time he wasn't as lucky. The gun man fired and Jess fell backwards with a cry of pain. Slim fired three shots, the fourth shot hit the gun man, killing him.

"Jess got hit!" Andy cried out.

Slim's eyes frantically searched for the other gun men.

"Did you see where Jess went?"

"I just saw him fall, Andy. Maybe he wasn't hit hard."

"But what if he was? We can't just leave Jess out there."

"What do you want me to do? Go get him?"

"No.  Slim, do you think Jess is all right?"

Ray laughed nastily. "Your friend is probably either dead or dying in his own blood."

"You say one more word and I'll make sure you never say another one," Slim warned. Slim's eyes roamed from the barn to the wood pile to the hay wagon to the trees in the distance. He wanted to yell out to see if Jess was still alive but he knew if Jess answered that would give his position away.

"Slim, look!"

Both saw the man fall. Jess stood over him, his knife bloody. The third gunman was dead.

Slim's whole body relaxed.  Ray moved so quick that it caught Slim off guard. Ray held Andy in front of him using the boy as a shield. One of Ray's arms was wrapped around the boy's neck, crushing his windpipe forcing Andy to gasp for air.

"You shoot. I squeeze."  Ray's arm tighten.

"Let him go."

"Slim?" Andy's voice showed he was panicked. His face was turning redder by the moment.
The young boy was fighting back tears. "Slim?"

Ray's hands pressed deeper into Andy's neck, causing the boy to cry out with pain. "Slide the gun over here to me."

Jess walked into the cabin. His sleeve was wet with blood. "Don't do it, Slim. He'll kill you both."

"Harper, get your hand away from your gun. That's it. Raise your hands higher. All right, what will it be?"  Ray asked. "The boy's life or my life?"

"If you kill him, I'll kill you," Slim threaten.

"Rather have a bullet than a hangman's noose."

"Slim, don't!" Jess said but Slim threw the gun at Ray's feet.

"Smart man," Ray said, once more a smile forming on his face. "Harper, keep your hands up high. That's it, Harper. Away from your gun." Ray knelt, his hand reaching for Slim's gun.
"You know, Harper, when I get through with you..." As his fingers touched the cold metal, he let go of Andy. Jess reacted like a panther. He dashed for Ray, pushing Andy aside. Ray fired once before Jess was on him. Jess and Ray struggled as Slim darted for Andy to shield his body. Ray hammered the gun into Jess's skull but Jess swung back first with a right then with a left.

As quickly as it had begun; it was over. Ray lay on the ground, covered in his own blood. Jess's fists had been brutal. Blood drizzled down Jess's face as it oozed from a cut over his right eyebrow. His sleeve was bloody from where he had been shot outside.

It had been three hours since the fight. Slim entered the room. His sleeves were rolled up.
"I think I got everyone bandaged. How you feeling?"

"I'll be all right." He flexed his arm. "How's the sheriff? And Mose?"

"The sheriff is better. And Mose is back to his old complaining self. Ray is tied up tight. He
can't get lose. I finally put a gag in his mouth to shut him up." Slim sat down at the table across from Jess. "With all the excitement. I didn't get to apologize."

Jess's eyebrows shot up with curiosity.

"I had you figured wrong from the start."

Jess's eyes dodged Slim's stare. "No, Slim. You were right. I have sold my gun. On more than one occasion. So don't apologize for being right. I am a drifter. No better than a no account."

"That's not true!" Andy sat down next to Slim. "Is it Slim? Why you saved our lives. A no account wouldn't have done that."

"Andy's right. What are your plans? Where do you go from here?"

Jess shrugged. "One town's the same as another. I just know I don't want to go where I've already been."

"You ever think about ranching?"

"I don't have enough money to buy a ranch."

"You know ever since our Pa died it's just been me and Andy. Jonesy keeps house but he's getting too old to help much with the outside chores. I could use a hired hand. 'Course I can't pay much. But there's room and board and..."

"Plenty of pie," Andy added with a smile. "What do you say, Jess? It sure would be good having you around. You can teach me how to fast draw and..."

"Hold it right there," Slim warned. "If Jess stays he's going to be ranching not fast drawing.
I don't need a gunslinger. I need a ranch hand."

"And what about my past?" Jess asked. "It's bound to catch up to me."

Slim said bluntly, "I won't lie. I don't hold with gun hands. But if you hadn't been one, we might not be here today." Slim offered his hand. "What do you say? Will you stay on?"

Andy nudged Jess's shoulder. "Come on, Jess. At least try it."

Jess shook Slim's hand. "Guess I could give it a try."

"Welcome home, Jess." Andy slapped Jess's shoulder.

"Home," Jess repeated then grinned broadly.

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