STAND ALONE by Patricia, Laramiekid_2000


CHAPTER ONE

The day had turned to dusk at the Sherman Relay Station. Early evening was quickly becoming night. Light was fading. As the sky became darker, the lights from inside the cabin offered a friendly beacon.  Yet the tune Jess Harper was
whistling died on his lips the moment he entered the cabin.

Mike yelled a loud hello; while, Daisy greeted Jess with a smile, assuring him that supper had been kept warm for him.

Slim entered the room from the kitchen, carrying a coffee pot. "I was beginning to worry. It ain't like you to miss supper. Them cattle must have been scattered more than we thought."

But Jess didn't reply to any of these greetings. Instead he stood just inside the doorway staring at the man who sat in front of the fire.

"Evening, Jess."

Jess nodded shyly at Mort Corey. After all these years, Jess was still cautious around Mort. "Mort," Jess greeted. "Kind of late to be out ain't it?"

Mort took a huge sip of coffee before he replied, "I needed to talk to you, Jess."

Jess didn't hide his alarm. "Something wrong?"

"I hear congratulations are in order. That Slim made you a partner."

A smile tugged at Jess's lips. "You rode all the way out here to tell me congratulations?"

Mort shook his head. "Nope. I'm here on official business."

"Something to do with me?" Jess stared with uncertainty at Mort.

"Why the way you look, you'd think a wanted poster's out on you, Jess," Slim said as he poured more coffee into Mort's cup.

As he drank, Mort glanced over the rim of his cup at Jess.

Jess stared back; his glare locked on Mort's face.

 "Come on, Mike, let's leave the men alone so they can talk," Daisy said.

"But Aunt Daisy," Mike complained.

"I think there's still one piece of cake left," Daisy tempted, "besides the piece I'm saving for Jess."

Mike didn't need any more encouragement.  He lead Daisy to the kitchen.

As soon as Daisy and Mike were out of the room, Jess asked, "Am I in trouble?"

"Mort did say he was here on official business," Slim explained.

Jess's face paled. "What-"

"Now hold on," Mort cut in as Slim grinned. Mort eyed Slim with an expression of a disapproving father.  His eyes traveled back to Jess, studying him closely as he explained, "I'm just here to ask a favor of  you, Jess."

"Of me?"

"Sure why not?" Mort asked. "You're a law abiding citizen ain't you?"

"I reckon," Jess said sounding so unsure that Slim laughed.

"You reckon?" Slim mocked with a grin. "Why Mort, last Sunday Daisy even got Jess to go to church.  And yesterday he took a bath, though it weren't Saturday. Guess I'd be the first one to say that Jess has turned into a model citizen."

Another laugh escaped Slim but Jess only frowned.

Mort waved his coffee cup at Jess. "Sit down and I'll tell you about it."

Jess moved slowly to the chair in front of the fire. He held his hands out to the fire's warmth, then turned and watched Mort. An expression of uncertainty was still on Jess's face.

As Mort began speaking, Jess's eyebrows lifted with surprise. When Mort was finished, Jess just stared at the lawman.

Mort waited for several minutes but Jess continued staring at him. "Well?" Mort finally demanded.

"Is this a joke?" Jess glanced at Slim then back to Mort. "Slim put you up to this?"

"It's no joke," Mort assured.

"I don't understand," Jess began.

"It's simple. You're the best man for the job. I need someone I can depend on. Someone I can trust." Mort leaned back in his chair. "In other words, I need a good law abiding citizen."

Again Jess was speechless.

"What do you say, partner?" Slim asked.

Jess looked at one man, then looked at the other. "I ain't never thought I'd be doing this. Slim, you sure-"

"Why not?" Slim interrupted. "Unless your face is on a wanted poster."


CHAPTER TWO

For several years the town of Laramie had been growing. No longer was it a small settlement in Wyoming. Now it was a small town that was quickly becoming a small city. Some of its citizens proudly boosted that the town was growing
by leaps and bounds. Others said the same comment but with a complaining tone. But no one could deny that the town of Laramie was growing. Yet there was one exception to this growth. Except for minor repairs, the sheriff's office was
the same as the day it had been built. Then Laramie had been no more than a few buildings at a cross roads. Now years later, the sheriff's office was still the same small building. Just how small this building was became evident every Saturday night when the three jail cells were over flowing with drunken cowboys.

Today, though, there were no prisoners. Only one man occupied this office. Jess Harper sat at the desk that usually the sheriff, Mort Corey, used. Wanted posters were spread out in front of him. Jess slowly sipped from a cup of steaming coffee. Without warning the door to the office swung open. The cup slammed on the desk as Jess's hand dropped to his gun.

"Well I always knew you'd end up in jail but I thought it would be on the other side of the cell."

Jess's face broke out into a grin.  "Slim, what are you doing in town?"

"Wanted to see if the town was still in one piece. With you acting as temporary sheriff  while Mort's away, Daisy and I had a bet going to see if the town was still standing."

"And which way did you bet?"

"Well let's just put it this way. I'm going to be cooking for a couple of days."

Jess laughed loudly. "Just hope this bet's carried out before I get home."

Slim's eyes crinkled with amusement. He sat on the side of the desk. His eyes roved over the wanted posters, then strayed to Jess's face. "So all's going well huh?"

"The town ain't been more peaceful," Jess bragged.  "I'm beginning to think Mort has a mighty easy job."

"You keep Laramie this peaceful and when Mort gets back from Denver he might not have a job."

"I sure never thought I'd be a lawman." Jess glanced down at the badge pinned on his shirt.

"Well don't get use to it. I want you back at the ranch as soon as Mort gets back in town. I'm getting tired of doing your chores."

A grin played on Jess's lips. "Won't be long. I expect him in a few days. Everything all right at the ranch?"

"Daisy and Mike miss you. And I'll admit it seems mighty quiet without you. But we're managing."

Jess's eyes narrowed to slits as he watched the man sitting across from him. "So Slim what are you really doing in town? If I was a betting man, seeing you wearing a suit and it ain't Sunday, I'd say the reason was Mary Brady."

A slow smile spread across Slim's face.  "Remind me never to play poker with you."

"Is she out in the buckboard?" Jess asked.
"I dropped her off at the general store."

"You know Slim, with her daddy being the richest man in the territory, I might just mosey over there and escort Miss Mary-"

Slim pointed his finger at Jess as if he was aiming a gun. But a grin filled Slim's face as he replied, "Sheriff or no sheriff, you stay away from that gal."

Jess pushed back his hat as he eyed Slim carefully.  "Daisy thinks it's serious."

Slim's eyes lowered, masking his thoughts. "Does she now?"

Laughter played in Jess's voice as he said, "Wouldn't be so bad. Married to a rich gal. Why I 'spect her daddy would-"

The shots jerked both men as if they had been hit. Jess jumped up from the chair then ran for the street. Slim followed him out the door.  Another shot was heard. The gunfire came from the Laramie bank. .


CHAPTER THREE


The Laramie bank and the sheriff's office were at the opposite ends of the street.  With gun in hand, Jess raced towards the bank. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks.  With a speed that only a gunfighter would have, Jess aimed his gun and fired. His first bullet hit one of the bank robbers in the chest. The second robber returned the gunfire. Jess flinched as a bullet flew past him, so close he felt it. Slim's gun fired. The second robber fell dead to the ground. A third man ran out the door of the bank. This robber fired his peacemaker rapidly as he headed for his horse. Jess carefully aimed and pulled
back the trigger of his colt. His arm jerked slightly as the bullet fired from the gun. Jess winged the robber in the leg. Jess hurriedly moved to the fallen man. He grabbed the gun which had fallen several feet from the robber.

The robber's hand was pressed against his leg. Blood hid his fingers as the wound bleed. Jess looked down at the man. "You'll live."  It took only a few seconds for Jess to discover that the other two robbers were dead.

"Jess, Mr. Morris says for you to get in here," one of the tellers called from the bank's doorway.

Jess roughly grabbed the prisoner and pulled him to his feet. The prisoner moaned loudly. Jess snapped, "You ain't that hurt."

"Jess!" the teller called. "You need to get in here."

Jess mumbled, "I know he's the bank president but still don't he know I got a prisoner to tend to."

Slim grinned. "Morris never was a patient man. Probably wants to thank you for stopping these men from getting away with the bank's money. Go on inside and play hero."

Jess glanced at his prisoner.

"You go on," Slim urged. "I'll take this one to jail."

"Jess!  Mr. Morris wants you now!" the teller yelled.

Jess growled his reply, "I'm coming," then pushed the prisoner towards Slim.

Using his gun, Slim urged the man towards the jail.  With a quick glance over his shoulder at the prisoner, Jess moved quickly to the bank.

Inside the bank, people looked in a daze. The bank president sat in a chair, trying to catch his breath.  His face was pale and his hands were shaking. A woman teller was crying loudly. But no one paid any attention as all eyes were drawn to the woman on the floor. Blood covered the front of her gingham dress. Seeing her, Jess drew in his breath sharply.  He quickly knelt down by the woman and gently searched for her pulse.

"We've already sent for the doc-"

"No need," Jess mumbled, standing.

Another woman began crying.

"Anyone else hurt?" Jess glanced around.

"No. Just shook up," the teller informed.

"What happen?"

The teller glanced down at the dead woman. His eyes watered as he said, "That one who left the bank last. He's the one who shot her. He tried to use her as a shield as he went out of the door. She pulled away from him."  The male
teller shook his head with sorrow. "What kind of man shoots a woman?"

Jess walked to the outside of the bank. He watched Slim cross the street.

"Everyone all right?" Slim greeted. "Did Morris thank you?"

Jess's eyes dropped off  Slim's face.

"Why the way you look-" Slim's voice turned angry. "Now don't tell me that Morris gave you the dickens because his bank got robbed!  Mort couldn't have handled it better."

"Slim, Mary's been shot."

"Mary?" Slim's face paled. "Here?"

Slim started to enter the bank but Jess's arm snaked out across the door opening.

"Jess, I got to see her! Did you sent for the doc?"

"Yeah."

Slim tried to push past but Jess didn't move as he blocked the doorway.

"Don't go in," Jess advised.

"If she's hurt-"

"She ain't hurting no more, Slim."

Slim's eyes opened wide with disbelief.  "Let me by, Jess."

"Slim-"

Slim charged forward, pushing Jess aside.

Jess watched as Slim moved quickly to the dead woman. Slim knelt beside her. With extreme gentleness he took her lifeless body in his arms.  Tears swelled in Slim's eyes as he held her close to him.  As he pushed back the hair off
her face, Slim's cheeks became damp then soaked with tears.


CHAPTER FOUR

It was one of the biggest funerals ever held in the town of Laramie. The Bradys were known and liked throughout the territory. Slim sat between Daisy and Jess. His head was bowed through most of the church service.

Daisy wept softly as the body was lowered into the ground. The family though didn't cry. They stood at the grave site silently staring down at the coffin. Tom Brady was a large man. Like him, his three sons moved with a confidence
that only money could breed in a man. Mary had taken after her dead mother. Quiet, gentle. The boys had taken after their father. Strong willed and outspoken.

One by one the mourners left the grave site. Daisy and Jess were two of the last to leave.

Jess had held his Stetson in his hands throughout the service. As he at last put his hat on his head, he glanced back over his shoulder at Slim, who still stood at the grave site. "I sure wish there was something I could say to Slim," Jess confided in Daisy.

"It's hard seeing him suffer isn't it?"  Daisy glanced with worry at Slim. Slim still stood staring down at the grave,  his shoulders sagged as if he couldn't bear the loss that he was feeling. "That poor boy. He loved her so." Daisy dabbed at her eyes with her lacy handkerchief.  "You get the buckboard. I'll tell Slim it's time to leave."

"Maybe I should be the one who-"

"Jess, I know you love him like a brother," she said softly.  "And maybe later he'll confide in you about the hurt he's feeling. But I've lost a husband. I know first hand the kind of pain he's feeling. It's a different kind of hurt, Jess. One that leaves you feeling as if  you lost part of your own self.  He's been so quiet this morning. Let me talk to him for a few minutes alone. He needs to talk to someone who's known that kind of pain. We'll meet you at the buggy."  She smiled at Jess. "Don't you worry about Slim. He's a strong man and he's going to be all right. Especially with a friend like you by his
side." She turned and hurried back to the grave.

For a moment Jess stood undecided. He watched Daisy move to Slim's side. He saw Slim take a firm grasp of Daisy's hand. Though Slim's head was bent, Jess could see Slim's lips moving. With one last glance, Jess finally turned and
started for the buggy.

"Harper!"

Jess turned back with surprise.

Tom Brady approached Jess in the same manner he would have approached a hired hand.

"Mr. Brady, I'm sorry about Mary," Jess greeted.

 "Harper, I hear you have the man who killed Mary."

Jess nodded. "Don't you worry. He's locked up good and tight."

"I want him released."

Jess gasped.  "You want me to let him go?"

"I want him released to me."

Shock remained on Jess's face. "I can't do that, Mr. Brady."

"I ain't asking you, boy. I'm telling you. Mary was my daughter. I'll take care of her killer. We got a tree already picked out for his hanging."

Jess glanced at the three sons, who stood behind Tom.  Like their father, their young faces were filled with anger and hurt.

Jess said,  "I'm really sorry about what happen to Mary. She was a sweet girl, real sweet. But I can't turn her killer over to you. He's my prisoner. I know the judge will sentence him to hang. Let the law handle this."

"I ain't going to wait for the law to take care of him. Mary's dead and her killer is still alive."

"I know that's hard," Jess sympathized. "But it will be best for you to wait until the judge arrives in Laramie and-"

"You think 'cause you're wearing that tin star you can tell me what to do? Why you ain't nothing but a drifter that Slim Sherman hired."

Jess's back straighten as if an iron rod was placed next to it. "I'm now part owner-"

Tom laughed; but his laughter held no merriment. "What you are, boy, is someone who rode into Laramie with a past following close behind him. Why Mort ever pinned a badge on you is beyond  me. Reckon he had to have someone to
look after the drunks and take care of the paperwork while he was gone. But you ain't no more  a sheriff  than I am. And you proved you ain't no lawman by letting them robbers ride into Laramie."

Shock and anger mixed on his tan face as Jess cried out, "You blaming me for Mary's death?"

"Maybe if you had been out on the street watching instead of  in your office-"

"I had just come back from rounds!" Jess defended.

"All I know is if Mort Corley had been here..." Tom's eyes darken."...instead he leaves someone like you. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere there is a wanted poster on you."

Jess's eyes turned deadly cold. "There ain't."

Tom's eyes narrowed. "But you know what the hoot owl trail looks like don't you, boy?"

Jess's jaw clinched.

A smile of satisfaction settled on Tom's face. "So don't be telling me what I should be doing. I was in this territory before there was any law. Who do you think made this country safe for people to settle here? You failed, boy, in making Laramie safe. Now it's my turn. And I aim to make Laramie safe again. So you let me handle this, boy."

"You're talking vigilante!"

"I'm talking justice!" Tom fired back. "My daughter is dead! Murdered!"

Jess swallowed back his anger. "I know you're hurting,  Mr. Brady.   But like it or not, I am the law.  And I intend to protect my prisoner. Now I don't want no trouble with you. So I'm hoping you're let the law handle this."

"I thought Sherman was your friend," one of the brothers snapped.

"He is!" Jess growled back. "I know Slim would want the law to handle this. And that's exactly what's going to happen. The law is going take care of Mary's killer. So let it be."

Tom's voice harden even more as he ordered, "Boy, don't buck me on this or you might end up dead."

Jess's hand touched his gun. "Like I said, I don't want no trouble." Jess turned to walk away.

"Don't you walk away from me, boy, until this is settled," Tom barked.

Jess turned with fury.  "It's settled," Jess snarled back.

"Tom...Jess," Slim greeted as his eyes traveled from one man to the other.

Out of habit, Tom politely touched the brim of his hat at Daisy. Each Brady followed the example of their father, nodding politely at Daisy.

Daisy reached out and touched Tom's arm. "I know there's nothing one can say at a time like this. I lost two sons. I know the pain of  losing a child."

Tom's face turned from stormy rage to quiet pain. "Miss Daisy, I thought I'd never hurt again like I did when I lost my wife. But losing Mary...." Tom's face plainly showed the despair that he was feeling.

"I know." Daisy squeezed his arm.

"Slim, she loved you so. I had hoped one day you and she-" Tom choked on his words.

"Pa-" The elder Brady led his father away. The other two Bradys followed.

"It look like you two were having words," Slim observed.

Jess replied, "He wants me to give up my prisoner to him."

"What!" Daisy said. "He can't be serious."

"He is. Very serious. He plans to hang him."

"Hang him! What can Tom be thinking? What are you going to do?"  Daisy's face molded into a mask of worry.

"I'm hoping that's just his pain talking. That later when he's had time to think-"

"Why not give your prisoner up?" Slim questioned.

Daisy looked as if Slim was a stranger that she didn't recognize. "Slim! You can't be serious!" she scolded.

Slim's face harden. "Why not? He's going to hang anyway. So why not let the Bradys pull the rope?"

Jess's face betrayed his thoughts.  "You know why. That would be murder."

"No! Murder is what he did to Mary. He's guilty of murder and we all know it. So why take the time to have a trial? Why should he be allowed to live when she wasn't?" Slim turned on his heels and walked away.

"Slim!" Jess started to follow.

"Jess, no!" Daisy grabbed Jess's arm before he had taken two steps. "Let him go. He's so very hurt. He doesn't know what to do."

Jess's forehead crinkled with worry. "Daisy, I never heard Slim talk like that."

"No, that's not Slim. I know when they told me that my sons had been killed at Shiloh, I hated every-" She bit her lip as if to stop her words. "Slim hates right now. But once he's had time to think and to reason then he'll know you're right."

"I hope so, Daisy. I sure hope so. I don't want any gunplay over this."

"Surely, it won't come to that."

"Tom Brady ain't use to being told no."

"But he's always been such a good, decent man."

"So has Slim. But this is different, Daisy.  Mary is dead and I'm keeping her killer alive. This is different."


CHAPTER FIVE

At first it was a small crowd. No more than five men. But within minutes the crowd had grown to fifteen men then grew again to twenty. Most of these men had come into the street from the saloon.  A few still held glasses of beer.

Jess stood on the boardwalk in front of the sheriff's office. He knew everyone standing before him.  Some he had shared drinks with. A few he considered his friends. Now these men stood in front of him, their faces angry, their voices loud and demanding.

Jess hadn't drawn his weapon but his hand quietly loosen the rawhide thong from his gun so he could draw it quickly.  Jess's legs slightly parted as he pushed his hat back so he could clearly see. His hand dropped and hovered over his gun. "I want you men to go home," he ordered. Not one man left the street.  For seconds Jess stood there facing the crowd. Suddenly without warning, the crowd lunged forward.

"Hold it!" Like lightning, Jess drew his gun, as he commanded, "Don't move another step."

The crowd stopped. Several men's hands dropped to touch the butt of the guns they were wearing.

Jess threaten, "Don't anyone draw. Or I swear-"

"Jess, we want that man. He's going to pay for what he did to Mary Brady."

"He is going to pay for what he did to Mary," Jess replied. "The court will decide-"

"We'll decide. We're be serving on the jury. So why wait?  Step aside Harper."

Jess argued, "Now you listen here. This man's my prisoner."

"He killed Mary Brady."

"And chances are he'll hang," Jess answered back. "But that's for a court of law to decide, not a mob."

"I thought you were Sherman partner!" a man yelled out.

"And friend!" another one added.

"I am! But I'm also acting sheriff  and I don't want to shoot but-"

"He's bluffing!" a man called out.

Another screamed,  "He can't take all of us. He's only one man!"

Jess said quickly, "Now you listen here-"

"He's not going to shoot us!"

One man boldly stepped forward, moving quickly towards Jess.  Without hesitation, Jess fired his gun. The man dropped to the ground. The angry crowd grew quiet. So quiet that a horse's neigh down the street sounded loud. Blood soaked the man's pants.

Jess stated, "You'll limp for a few days but if anyone else tries, I'll shoot to kill. That's a promise. Now get him to the doc before he bleeds to death." Quickly men lifted the wounded man and carried him away. Jess added, "The rest of you go home."

No one moved. These angry men just stood there, staring defiantly at Jess.

Jess's eyes roamed from man to man. His hand tighten on the handle of the gun. "I said go home! Unless you want to give the doc more business." Jess pulled back the hammer of  his gun.

One by one the men turned away, mumbling angry remarks about Jess. Though Jess kept his face blank, the remarks hurt as much as if each man had struck him with a fist. He had thought he had made friends in this town.

Jess waited until the street was empty. He slowly put his gun back into his holster. Keeping his hand on the butt of his gun, he backed into the office. Not until he had shut the door, did he let go of his gun. He fell exhausted
into the chair. He wiped his sleeve across his face. Facing a man was different than facing a mob.

"Well well well! I should probably thank you for saving my life," the prisoner said. He looked to be in his early twenties. His eyes resembled a snake's, small and beady.  Though young, his skin was weather beaten from the sun as if he had spent most of his life out of doors..

Jess didn't even glance at him as he mumbled, "Don't thank me. You'll hang."

"Don't be so sure, lawman."

The anger Jess had been feeling towards the mob now sounded in his voice, "You'll hang and if they let me, I'll pull the rope."

The prisoner grabbed the cell bars. The knuckles on his hands paled from holding the bars so tightly.  "I didn't mean to shoot the girl. It was an accident."

"Shutup! I don't want to hear no excuse for what you did."

"You got to believe me! It was an accident! I'd never shoot a woman!"

"No, just hide behind her like a coward."

"You got to listen to me! I don't deserve to hang!"

"I said shutup!" Jess snarled as he jerked his head towards the cell.

"I'm telling the truth!"

 Jess opened his mouth to speak but the door to the office suddenly burst open. Jess's hand instinctually  dropped to his gun. Then just as quickly he let go of his weapon as he saw the intruder.  "Slim!" he cried out with relief.

Slim entered the office. He still wore the suit he had worn yesterday to the funeral. The coat and pants were badly wrinkled as if he had slept in his

clothes. Stubble on his chin showed that he had not shaved. There was no friendliness on his face. Only anger and hurt.

Jess stood. His eyes traveled the length of Slim. An expression of worry flashed across Jess's face. "Slim, how are you?"

Without saying a word, Slim walked past Jess. He walked right to the cell. He eyed the prisoner as if studying him.

"Slim, what are you doing in town? I thought you'd be back at the ranch," Jess said.

Slim slowly turned and faced Jess. "I just left the Brady ranch. I thought you should know. The Bradys are riding to Laramie. They're planning on taking your prisoner to the nearest tree and hanging him."

"You got to protect me!" the prisoner cried out. "That's your sworn duty."

"I know what my duty is," Jess growled.

"Jess, there's four of them. And you know each of them Bradys can handle a gun."

"Slim, I can't let the Bradys just take him out of here."

"Why not? He's going to hang anyway."

"Slim, then why not let the law-"

Slim snapped angrily, "There was a time when you weren't so almighty on the law!"

Jess slowly nodded. "Yeah, I was a lot different then. Just a drifter who had been in and out of trouble. Heading for more. Most of it using a gun. But you talked me out of it. You made me see things different, Slim. That's why I don't understand why you're not wanting the law to handle this. When did you turn vigilante?"

Hurt replaced anger in the tone of his voice as Slim replied, "She shouldn't have died, Jess."

"No she shouldn't have. But that's no excuse for you to turn your back on everything that meant something to you. You're all the time telling Mike that he should be law abiding. Is it all talk? What's Mike to think if I let this prisoner go because you want me to? How are you going to explain it to him? That you got a right to kill but others don't."

Slim looked as if he had been hit. He sat down on the edge of the desk as if he was too weak to stand. He chewed on his lip as he thought over Jess's words.

"Have you eaten?" Jess asked with concern. "How about some coffee?" Jess started towards the pot belly stove to pour him a cup but stopped and faced Slim when he heard...

"She was so sweet, Jess. She wouldn't have hurt anyone."

"I know, Slim. I liked Mary. The whole town did."

"You know why she was at the bank?"

Jess shook his head no.

"She saw something in the store that she wanted to surprise me with. The storekeep would have let her have it on credit but she wanted to buy it out of her own money instead of charging it to her Pa's account. She wanted me to know that she had bought it with her own money. Don't you see, Jess, she died because of me! Don't you understand, Jess, if it hadn't been for me, she'd be alive today."

"Slim!" Jess moved quickly to Slim and touched his arm. "She loved you. You can't blame yourself.  She died because of-"

Slim suddenly rushed to the cell. The prisoner jumped back. "She died because of you." Slim drew his gun. "Maybe I'll put an end to this now."

"Harper!" the prisoner cried out with alarm. "Do something!"

For a moment Jess couldn't speak he was so startled. Finally he said, "Put the gun down, Slim!"

"Why? Are you going shoot me if I don't?" Slim challenged. "You care more about your prisoner than about your friend?  Which is it, Jess? You going to help him or you going to help me?"

Jess's eyes quickly traveled from Slim's gun to the prisoner's face.

"Harper!" the prisoner pleaded, as he cowered in the corner of the cell.

Slim yelled, "Well answer me, Jess! Are you going to draw against me?"

"I wouldn't have much chance with you already holding your gun.  Put it up, Slim. You don't want to do this."

"So that's what's stopping you huh? You're only worried about your own hide." Slim put his gun in his holster. His hand hovered close to his gun. "Now you going to draw? That's the only way you're going to stop me! You know I can't
beat you."

Jess's face showed his horror at the thought. "Slim, when I put on this badge I swore to-"

"Ain't you got no loyalty to me, Jess? After all we've been through? I made you my partner. Gave you half ownership of my ranch. This is how you repay me?" Slim asked angrily. "Maybe I was wrong to make you my partner. Partners help each other, Jess."

"If I weren't your friend, I'd be shooting, not asking," Jess replied. "You do this, you're going to live to regret it."

"You've killed men."

Jess flinched as if he had been physically hit. "Never like this. Only in a fair fight."

Once again Slim choose his words carefully then said them rapidly as if firing a gun. "You think it's a fair fight when you're so fast on the draw? Did the other man really have a chance, Jess?"

Once again Slim's words hit their mark as once more Jess cringed.

Slim added, "And you've served on posses. Hanging ones too."

It was as if Slim had poured salt into an open wound.  Jess's eyes lowered to hide his pain. "I'll admit it. I have." Jess boldly met Slim's stare.  "But I never dragged a man out of jail to hang him. Only when there was no law around-"

"Mort's gone!"

Jess's face showed that Slim had struck him harder than any fist would have. "But I'm here. Unless this badge don't mean nothing to you?  Or maybe me wearing it don't? You figure I ain't good enough to be a lawman? 'Cause you're right I was a no account drifter. Just a saddle bum. You figure after all this time of us working together, living together, of me now being a partner, that I'm still nothing more than a no account?"

"What I figure is that you had your chance to help me, Jess. But you chose not to." Slim glanced at the prisoner. He drew his gun.

"Slim! Don't do this!" Jess begged.

Slim's fingers tighten on the trigger.

"Harper!" the prisoner screamed.

Jess argued, "What you told me about your Pa, he wouldn't approve."

"My Pa's dead. Shot in the back. Where was the law then?" Slim pulled back the gun's hammer.

"Harper!" The prisoner's forehead broke out with beads of sweat.

"And Mary?" Jess said quickly. "Would she want you to be a murderer? It'd break her heart, Slim, to know you were doing this and blaming her as the reason. Don't dirty her memory by committing murder. You know Mary wouldn't
want this."

Slim shook his head as if trying to clear it.

Jess continued, his words pouring out of him rapidly. "You knew Mary better than anyone. Mary never did take with settling things with a gun. He's going to hang.  If he's doesn't, I swear to you as your friend I'll kill him myself.  So put the gun up. Hanging's worse than being shot. You know that's true. Don't cheat the hangman!  Let this polecat die with a rope around his neck!  It's a bad way to die. And he deserves to die that way.  Don't make his death easy by shooting him! You want revenge? Get it in the worse way that you can..hang the polecat!"

Slowly Slim holstered his gun.

Jess breathed a long sigh of relief as his own hand left the butt of his gun.

Slim eyed Jess carefully as he said, "I figure the Bradys will be in town in about an hour. You got that long to decide what you're going to do. 'Cause you're right he's deserves to hang."

Slim walked past Jess to the door. He opened the door.

"When the Bradys come to get him, you going to be with them?" Jess asked.

Slim glanced over his shoulder at Jess. "I don't know. But one thing's for sure, even if I don't fight with them, I won't try to stop them."

"Well I'll stop them. I'll stop anyone who tries to take my prisoner away from me."

"You can't fight the whole town, Jess."

"Maybe not. But when I put on this badge, I made Mort a promise. I ain't letting no one take my prisoner, even if it means fighting every man in this town."

"Then you'll die. And for what? Him? Like you said he's going to hang anyway, so what's the point of losing your life for him?" Slim slammed the door.

Jess ran his fingers through his hair.

"Harper, you can't let them take me."

"Shutup!"

"You're the law in this town! You swore to protect me-"

"I swore to protect the citizens of Laramie. Seems to me that killing you would protect them."

"What kind of lawman are you?'

"That's just it! I ain't one!" Jess argued.

"You're wearing that badge," the prisoner argued back. "You got to protect me."

Jess sat down at the desk. He glanced at his pocket watch. He had to make a decision and he had less than one hour to make it.


CHAPTER SIX

"Harper!"

Jess recognized the voice. He slowly stood. He had already checked; but now he rechecked that his gun was loaded with six bullets.  Satisfied, he opened the door and stepped out onto the board walk.

"Mr. Brady! Boys!" Jess greeted with a short nod of his head.

Tom Brady sat on a huge Palomino. Slowly he dismounted from his horse. One by one, his sons followed his example until they all stood in a line facing Jess.

Tom announced, "We've come for your prisoner."

"I done told you, Mr. Brady.  I can't let you have him."

"Then we'll take him."

"You'll have to go through me to get him."  Jess's hand dropped then rested on his gun.

"Then you'll die along with him. Make your choice, Harper.  'Cause we aim to take your prisoner, even if thatmeans killing you."


CHAPTER SEVEN

The bartender watched from the saloon's swinging doors. "Sherman, looks like your partner is in  a tough spot right now."

"He put himself there," Slim replied.

"Four against one. I wouldn't want those odds."

Slim gulped the liquor then demanded, "I want another whiskey."

The bartender reluctantly left the doorway. He poured a glass of liquor and handed it to Slim. "I thought you and Jess were friends."

"As long as he's protecting a killer, I don't think he's going to find a friend in Laramie," Slim mumbled then swallowed the entire glassful of whiskey.

"Reckon not," the bartender replied. "You got to hand it to Jess, though. Standing up to the Bradys like he is. He's got to know he's going to die. But he ain't backing down. Yeah, you got to admire a man like that. Facing death and not showing one bit of being scared."


CHAPTER EIGHT

Jess would have been the first one to admit that he was scared. He didn't want to die. But he knew he couldn't walk away. Something inside of him was clinging to a promise he had made when he put on the badge. He felt he had something to prove to the town and to himself. He watched the Bradys spread out, standing in a straight line, moving several feet apart. If he was lucky he could get two. But the way they were lined up, the way they were so spread out, there was no way he could get all four, even if he dropped and rolled. He tried to plan what he could do when the shooting started, but he knew that there wasn't anything he could do. At that moment, he knew he was looking death in the eye. A bead of sweat formed at the back of his neck then trickled down his spine. The pit of his stomach felt as if it was churning. Still he stood there, refusing to give up his prisoner.

From experience, Jess knew to watch their hands, not their faces. Trouble was he wasn't sure who would react first. He bet it would be Tom, though Jason the oldest had a temper, which could be mean at times. With Tom at one end and
Jason at the other, Jess had to make a decision. He chose Tom and prayed that he had made the right decision.

"One last chance, Harper. Just walk away, no one will think less of you," Tom offered, his voice almost pleading.

"Like it or not, I'm the law in Laramie. I can't walk away. But you boys need to do that. When this is over, you're going to have to answer to the law."

Tom smiled. "Boy, don't you know when this is over, you're going to be dead. There's too many of us to fight. Oh you're good. I've seen you draw. But you ain't facing one man. You're going against four. And I've taught all my boys how to be good marksmen. One last chance, Harper, to live. Walk away now. Don't be a fool. That prisoner in there probably killed others besides Mary. He deserves to die. Don't waste your life on him. Go on, boy, walk away. You have my word we won't shoot you in the back. He's the only one we want. Go on, boy, get out of here."

Out of the corner of his eye, Jess saw Slim leave the saloon. For a moment Jess was hopeful. Two against one could mean he might survive this gunfight. But Slim moved no further than the boardwalk outside the saloon. Slim leaned
against the hitching post, watching the Bradys and Jess.  He looked as if he was watching a parade. He pushed back his hat as his arms crossed over his chest.

Jess glanced back at the Bradys. Each Brady's hand rested on their gun, except Jason's. This eldest son kept opening and closing his fist as his hand hovered over his gun.

Jess said softly, "Mr. Brady, I'm asking you again to let the law-"

"I want your prisoner!" Tom snarled. "Let him go, Harper. You can't win. Four against one."

Jess glanced at Slim. But Slim didn't move.

"Is he worth dying for?" Tom asked.

Jess's eyes traveled back to Tom Brady. "No," Jess admitted.

Tom smiled. "Well then, boy, step aside and-"

"But the law is worth dying for. Without it, we're just killers on the loose. No better than that man locked up."

Tom lost his smile. "I thought you were smarter than this. All this talk about dying for the law. Fool notion you got, boy. I've heard the talk about you. Your pal Slim mentioned you to Mary."

Jess's stare flew to Slim. A look of betrayal settled on Jess's face. But Slim showed no reaction. He just stood there on the boardwalk, watching as if he was a spectator viewing a play and was anxious to see what happen next.

Tom continued, "You have a past."

Jess's eyes slowly left Slim and focused on Tom.

Tom added. "From what I hear you were once a wanted man. Served some time in jail.  And now suddenly you're bragging that the law should be respected above my daughter's life. With a reputation like yours, where'd you get an idea that the law is more important than justice?"

"I was told that without the law, there's no justice," Jess mumbled as he again glanced at Slim.

Slim's eyes though were not friendly; instead his expression was icy.

"The law didn't protect my Mary."

A look of cautiousness was replaced by a look of sadness on Jess's face. He looked at Tom and said in a whisper, "I tried. I truly did, Mr. Brady."

"Well you failed, boy. And now I've come to make sure that justice is served. 'Cause the law ain't doing it. Step aside, Harper. This is your final chance."

Jess's eyes sneaked a look at Slim. Slim just stared back. Jess's eyes snapped back to Tom Brady.

Tom's face darken with rage. "Don't be a fool, Harper. You can't beat the odds. Four against one."

Jess felt his shirt moisten with sweat. He searched for words to say that would convince these men to walk away. But he could think of none.  He had made his argument but the Bradys had not accepted his reasoning. Once more Jess glanced at Slim. But Slim's stare was as cold as steel.  Jess's glare moved back to Tom Brady. Tom was eying Jess as if he couldn't understand why. There was both anger and confusion on Tom's face.

"We've waited long enough, Pa!" Jason announced.

Jess was tempted to glance at Jason but he kept his eyes glued to Tom's hands. Now it was a waiting game. A game of who would react first. Jess was still betting it would be Tom. He knew Tom kept a tight rein on his sons. So Jess still believed that they would wait until Tom made the first move.

"Harper," Tom said softly.  But in that one word, Jess heard pleading from a man who was known in Laramie as a man who would never beg.

Jess only shook his head no.

Rage erupted from Tom like a volcano spurting as Tom's face brighten red with anger. "My fight ain't with you! Don't you understand you can't win this fight! Four against one-"

"Four against two. The odds just changed." Slim stepped off the boardwalk and walked across the street. He joined Jess, standing on the boardwalk beside him.

Jess threw Slim a quick smile. But Slim kept his eyes locked on the Bradys.

"You said that you loved Mary!" One of the brothers cried out with rage.

"I did," Slim admitted. "Deeply. But this is wrong!"

"What he did to Mary was wrong," Tom said.

"Go home, Tom," Slim advised. "You don't want any more of your children to die."

No one knew who fired the first shot. They only knew it was a Brady. Jess dove for the street, firing as he fell. Slim crouched as he aimed and shot off a round of bullets. It was over as quickly as it began.

Tom lay in the street dead. A son lay near him, still alive, but badly wounded. The other two Bradys had flesh wounds. One in the arm; the other in the leg.


CHAPTER NINE

Jess walked his horse into the ranch yard of the Sherman Relay Station.

"Howdy!" he greeted shyly.

Slim looked up from shoeing a horse. "Mort must be back," Slim said.

"I'm wondering if you want me back," Jess replied.

Slim chewed on his lip before replying, "I ain't never loved a woman like I loved Mary."

"Slim, I had no choice."

"You had a choice," Slim disagreed. He filed down the horse's shoe, then led the horse to the corral. Slim then moved to the porch and sat down in a rocker. Sweat slid down his cheek. He wiped his sleeve across his face.

Jess's eyes never strayed from Slim. He stood by his horse watching Slim's every movement. As Slim settled in the rocker, Jess asked softly, "You want me to put up my horse or get my belongings?"

Slim stared hard at Jess for a long moment. "As much work as we got to do here. Why would you be going?"

"I wasn't sure if I'd be welcome."

"We're partners ain't we?"

"Yeah, but this is your place-"

"Our place.  Jess, I know we got on opposite sides."

"But in the end you were there for me," Jess finished.

Slim said slowly as if the words were painful for him to speak, "You had a choice to make. And so did I."

Jess's head lowered with sadness.

Slim continued, "But you made the right choice.  Jess, I was wrong. How did you get to be so smart?"

Jess glanced quickly at Slim. "Probably from listening to you."

A smile raced across Slim's face.   "I'm beholding that you didn't let me kill that man." Slim stood and held out his hand, "I'm hoping you'll stay on, pard. After all this ranch is half yours. You earned it."

A smile flirted on Jess's lips. "Just try getting rid of me." He shook Slim's hand hard.

Slim's small smile grew into a grin.  "I wouldn't think of it especially when you got so many chores to catch up on."

Jess chuckled, relief sounding with each note of laughter.

Slim glanced at the road. "Looks like the stage is coming."

Jess glanced at his pocket watch. "And for once on time."

"Mose must know that Daisy baked a cake the way he's pushing that team. Well don't look so surprised. She baked one to welcome you back. You've been gone a long time. Come on, let's get this team changed so we can have some of that
cake. Knowing Mose he'll try to talk Daisy into letting him eat the whole cake."  Slim stepped down from the porch. He started for the corral.

"Slim?  Are you and me all right?" Jess questioned.

Slim turned back. He gave a slow nod. "We're all right. Now get going. I don't want to do all the work myself. Though it seems lately like I do more than my share."

Jess laughed as his body relaxed. "Yeah, I guess things are back to normal."

The smile vanished from Slim's face. "I don't know if I'll ever feel things are normal. I miss Mary. I miss her something fierce."

Jess touched Slim's shoulder with a closeness that only brothers could share. "I 'spect there's a part of you that always will," Jess stated. "But time has a way of making a person peaceful. Give it time, Slim."

Slim nodded then said, "You say give it time. Yet you're still haunted by your past."

Jess's hand slid off of Slim's shoulder. Jess bit his lip as if to hold back his words.

Slim continued, "Mary and me did talk about your past but not because I thought you were a no account. I ain't told no one but..." Slim hesitated before he said, "Mary and I had decided to get married. We had it all planned out. The whole ceremony. We were going to get married in the summer so Andy could be at the wedding during his school vacation. We talked about you because I wanted you to be my best man."

"Me?"

"Wouldn't have anybody else," Slim replied. "I just wanted Mary to know you like I do. 'Cause you and I are friends...and partners. Wouldn't have anyone else as my partner...or my best friend." Slim glanced at Jess.

Jess replied in a shy voice, "There's some things that might have made her not want to know me."

"Why do you think Mort picked you? He knew about your past. That didn't stop him from asking you to be temporary sheriff."

"I don't know, Slim. I keep thinking my past is behind me but-"

"Whether you admit or not, you've changed since that first day I met you. Then you were on your way to being a gunslinger. Now you are a law abiding citizen. You proved that, Jess. You stood up to the whole town. You stood up to me. Ain't nobody going say different." Slim slapped Jess on the back.

As the stage pulled into the yard, Slim hurried to open the door to help the passengers down from the stage while Jess tied his horse to the hitching post.  Then side by side, Jess and Slim unhitched the horses and once again worked as a team.

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