Trail Fever

Events in this story loosely follow my other story, "Unmistakable".

Chapter 1: Itchy Feet

Sherman Ranch, Wyoming

Jonesy dumped out a pan of dishwater, scaring the chickens. Slim Sherman stopped beside him on his way to the barn. "Good breakfast, Jonesy."

Jonesy harrumphed. "Your new hand didn't seem to think so. Picked at it like it was poison."

Slim looked across the yard at the hand in question, the young drifter Jess Harper. He and Andy were harnessing up the team for the morning stage. "He's hardly new anymore, Jonesy. Been here for quite a spell."

"Just the same, you'd think he'd be used to my cookin' by now and show it the appreciation it's worth."

Slim patted his old friend on the shoulder. "Don't feel too bad. Jess hasn't been eating much of anything lately. I noticed the other day in town he didn't even finish his piece of pie at the café."

"On a diet, is he?"

Slim shook his head, troubled thoughts filling his mind. "No, something more serious than that, I think. Jess is getting trail fever. It's been a long time coming, too. I'm hard pressed to remember the last time he seemed happy."

Jess' light laugh carried in the early air in response to something Andy said. Jonesy shook his head. "Doesn't seem too upset. Why, just the other day, him and Andy put salt in my coffee."

"It isn't something plain to see, but you can tell every time we're out on the trail together. Doesn't matter where we're heading; he always looks like he wants to go just a little farther."

Slim's words rang in his own head as the day wore on, for he was constantly reminded of them as he spent time with Jess. The young man was restless and sparked arguments over nothing until Slim told him to go cool off. Sullenly Jess complied, looking hurt and relieved at the same time.

A telegram arrived for Slim the next day on the noon stage. He smiled in relief, for this was actually good news for a change. Jess, putting up the spent horses as the stage rolled out, asked, "What's got you so happy?"

Slim held up the slip of paper. "How'd you like to see Texas again, Jess?" Slim had hoped the mention of Jess' home state would produce a favorable reaction from the younger man. It didn't.

"Just about like I'd like to see the inside of Yuma," he groused. "Why?"

Slim ignored Jess' surly comment. "This is a telegram from the company saying that they need more guards on a shipment that's coming out of Amarillo. Interested?"

Jess threw an armful of harnesses over the corral fence. "That's a long way just for guardin', Slim. What is it that's so important they ask for men from all the way in Wyoming?"

"I guess just because it's coming back here to Cheyenne. I don't know what it is that they're carrying, Jess, but they want the best. I recommended you for the job."

Jess studied Slim for a long moment. "Slim, we've come a long way, but do you really trust me that much?"

Slim nodded without a shadow of a doubt. "I do, Jess. I'd trust you with my life."

The dark-haired man's mouth jerked as if he were in hidden pain. He turned away sharply.

"What is it, Jess? You look as though your foot's been stepped on by a mule."

"Nothin'. It's nothin', Slim."

Slim didn't believe him for a second but didn't press the matter. "So? What shall I reply?"

Jess turned back around, his face similar to the mask he had worn when Slim had first met him, completely guarded and shut off. "Yeah. Tell them yeah, I'll do it."

"Fine. You'll leave the day after tomorrow." Slim watched Jess head into the barn. There was just no understanding that one.

Two days later Jess was packed and on the stage. He waved at Andy, who looked so glum his face could bring on a rain storm.

Jess smiled to himself as the stage pulled out, feeling a bit of elation to have the country moving past him. He was the only passenger besides another cowboy, a friendly blond man with a huge grin. They were down the road a spell when the cowboy introduced himself. "Howdy there, name's Trampas. Comin' from Medicine Bow on a job for my boss. Man's taken a notion to send me to Texas on some special trip."

"Jess Harper, doin' the same as you, I guess."

Trampas slapped his thigh. "What are the odds of that? Us two gents goin' to the same place, and on the same stage too?"

Jess quirked a brow. "Yeah, strange."

"You know," Trampas began, "coincidences like that don't just happen. Once I knew of this fella who…."