No copyright infringement intended. They own them; not me. What a shame.
Warning: Some chapters may contain disciplinary action toward a teenager. If you don't like, please by all means don't read.
Chapter 2
"Chris."
"Judge."
"Is he part of the Henry gang?"
"Not sure. He swears up and down that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"However?"
"However, the men in those cells said the boy was their lookout and scout. Although, the way they beat the tar out of him tells me he didn't live up to his job."
"You think he purposefully led them into a trap of some sort?"
"It's a guess. He hasn't regained consciousness yet, besides an occasional moan or two. I'm not sure what to think."
"Mary mentioned he's the cause of your recent injury."
"Yep. You could say he got his point across."
"Meaning."
"He won't go willingly back to an orphanage."
"I see. I'd like to talk to him once he's awake."
"I'll see that you do."
"It's amazing, no matter how old they get, they always look so young when they sleep."
Chris refused to answer, but silently agreed.
His head throbbed as he squinted against the light. A groan of frustration was heard. Wait, that was me. "What happened?"
"About time you woke up. You had Nathan a might worried."
"Huh? The last thing I remember, oh…" The last thing he recalled was getting one of the worst beatings ever. The Henry gang sure lit into him. He took a breath and found that hurt as well. Grimacing against the pain, Jesse tried not to move much.
"Easy. Don't over do it. You'll bring the wrath of Nathan down upon ya. Need anything?"
Yeah, how about a new life? "Thirsty."
Chris did the best he could and grabbed the tin cup of water. He helped the boy sip from the cup. The first polite word to come out of the boy's mouth was, "Thanks." Another groan slipped from the kid's lips.
Both Chris and Jesse heard boots scrape up the steps. Jesse involuntarily tensed. The last couple of years had been hard on him. Chris waited wondering which of his men would come through that door.
It was Nathan. "I see he's awake. How you feeling?"
"Been better."
"Really? You could have fooled me."
That was when it dawned on Jesse just how vulnerable he felt. Realizing these men now have seen the bruises on him and the need to flee was overwhelming. He started to move despite how much sharper the pain became.
"Hold on there! You're not going anywhere!" He easily subdued his young patient.
Chris backed up Nathan. "He's right. You'll only hurt yourself more."
Jesse croaked. "What do you people care?" He tried once again to get out of the bed. Despite his efforts, he found himself gasping breathlessly against the two men. It wasn't long before he accepted defeat; at least for the time being.
"See, all you managed to do was bring yourself more pain. You need to rest. If you want we'll help you into a sitting position." Jesse nodded.
With a few more groans and grunts of pain, they had him up with a pillow between his back and the iron bed frame. He wasn't sure if this was a better position or not. At least he could see the room at a better angle.
"Nathan, why don't you get him some of that tea of yours?"
Curiosity got the better of him. "Tea?"
"Medicinal." The healer emphasized.
Jesse made a face. Chris laughed. "I think he's been on the receiving end of some of those medicinal teas before."
Sure enough and to prove it Jesse tried once more to get out of bed. "Hey! You need to stay put."
"I don't want no tea."
"Too bad, drink it." It was an order that brooked no argument. Jesse drank it and thought hard about spitting it out. "I wouldn't if I were you." He swallowed all the while glaring at the blond peacekeeper. "Glare all you want, it don't bother me none."
What a fine mess he had gotten himself into this time. What's next?
Nathan finally granted Chris a reprieve, although this time he almost didn't want to go. Something about that boy was getting under his skin. He didn't know what it was about the kid, but something called to him.
With the help of a crutch and Josiah, he made it down the stairs and over to the jail. Orrin Travis was waiting. "How is he?"
"He woke this morning."
Buck sat up in the chair he was leaning in. "That's good news."
"Yeah, if you enjoy being in a lot of pain. How is he really doing?" The tracker hated to mince words.
"More pain than what he already carries. Them Henry boys didn't hold nothing back." Chris worked his jaw some. "That wasn't the first beating that boy has had at their hands. I'm sure of it."
"Chris, you're not telling us everything, are you?"
"He has a lot of old bruises under all those new ones. Someone has messed him up but good. It's no wonder he's skittish as a newborn colt."
The Judge could plainly see how rankled these men could get when someone suffered such injustice. "Which brings us to our current problem, is the boy a part of the gang or is he not?"
"In my opinion, I'm beginning to believe he wasn't a willing participant." Chris coolly admitted.
"If he is up to a visit, I'd like to hear his side of the story."
"I think that would be a good idea." Chris agreed.
Before interviewing the boy, Orrin met all seven of his peacekeepers in the saloon.
"Who's looking after the boy?"
Nathan answered. "Nettie and Casey both volunteered to keep him company. I thought it best to warn Nettie not to be fooled by any of his escape attempts. She was sure he would mind her."
"If he doesn't, he'll have me to deal with later." Vin all but growled.
"Don't worry, pard. He's not in any condition to go very far." Chris said. Then he looked over to the Judge. "So, what's your opinion. Does the boy stand trial or not."
"I agree with what you said earlier. He will not stand trial. I'll try the rest of the Henry gang starting tomorrow."
"Well, that should perk the kid up a bit, don't you think?" An exuberant J.D. explained.
"Be that as it may, the lad needs someone to look after him. Any of you boys willing to volunteer?"
"I would, but as you can see I've already taken J.D. under my wing."
"Buck!
"And corrupted the poor lad."
"Hey!"
"I agree with Ezra. He needs a different kind of influence."
"What about Vin?"
"Me? I strongly don't recommend it. I have a price on my head, or have you forgotten?"
"Oh, yeah. How about Josiah?"
"I'm afraid I might follow in my father's footsteps. He'd be better off in an orphanage than with me."
"I have an idea, how 'bout Chris?"
"Have you lost yer senses? Where did that fool idea come from?"
"Sounds like a perfectly good idea, pard."
Now there were two fools standing before him and from the look of things, more to follow. "Why not someone who has a child or two? Have you asked Mary?"
"I don't think she'd be able to handle such a strong willed individual, like Jesse."
"I think you'd be surprised."
"And besides, I've already inquired and she has declined. However, Billy had other ideas. He would have relished an older brother."
"People, people! I think we're missing the point here."
"Hey Ez! What about you?"
"You sir, are more addled brain than your mentor."
"I think I've been insulted."
"I think you're right."
"No, I agree with Ezra. Look what his mother did to him. I wouldn't want to try and raise another for fear of turning out like he did."
Nathan rendered Ezra speechless. "Well, what do you know? Hey, Ez, how does it feel to be insulted?" Buck couldn't resist the last jibe at the gambler.
"Easy Ez, Buck was just pullin' yer leg." The tracker tried to soothe the conman's murderous gaze.
"I see Josiah woke you on the wrong side of the bed."
"Actually, Mr. Wilmington, Mr. Sanchez did no such thing." Ezra cocked an eyebrow his way.
"What? You mean you've been up since the crack of dawn. Now that would've been a sight to see. Dang, I miss all the good stuff that happens around here."
"Now I wouldn't quite say that. Tell him, Ezra."
"No, I was not up at that god awful hour. I was up before the…"
"Crack o' Noon?"
He narrowed his eyes at a certain tracker before continuing. "Yes, believe it or not I was out of my warm bed before that blissful hour."
"What were you doing?"
"I was doing a bit of research on our recent acquaintance. You see, I have heard the name of Ryder mentioned in my travels."
"Go on."
"I'm surprised you of all people have not heard of the name?" He questioned the Judge.
"At this moment, I don't recall."
"Well, your sweet daughter-in-law, Mrs. Travis, helped me find the exact article I had been in search of. It pertains to a certain Federal Marshall, Ethan Ryder."
"Please tell me this has nothing to do with any of Maude's crazy schemes."
"Actually, no. I heard of the Marshall when I passed through the Missouri territory. He and his wife were strong believers in justice. Or should I say fair justice. It was that same belief that led to their deaths only two years ago. They seemingly were disliked by some of the cattlemen out that a ways. Unfortunate events led to their demise. However, the mystery of it all was they never did find the body of their son. I do believe he may be the only witness to their murders."
"Geez, Ez, you think Jesse's their son!" Exclaimed J.D. Dunne.
"That I do. His age fits within the time frame. He even mentioned he's been on his own for two years now."
"How did they die?"
Dreading the answer, Chris heard. "No one rightly knows. I believe the answer lies with him." Going through the act of straightening his cuffs Ezra then said. "And if I were him, I wouldn't divulge that sort of information to just anyone."
J.D. excitedly mentioned, "Do you think it could have been one of the Henry gang?"
"More like it was someone that one of the gang knew or possibly ran with at one time or another, I reckon."
"Seems almost logical. I know if I were his age, and hell bent on the truth, you listen to what people say around you. Nobody thinks much of a young boy and what he may or not hear."
Vin looked to Chris and the man clad in black discreetly nodded. "I think I might agree with your logic."
Meanwhile in the clinic, Nettie Wells made sure Jesse stayed in bed. She wouldn't brook no argument from the boy. She considered herself a tough old bird and she was no stranger to raising youngsters. Knew they would try all kinds of schemes, she saw through them all.
Jesse stopped trying, maybe some rest could help his plight later. If he were to get the drop on the peacekeepers he would need all the strength he could gather. What he didn't count on was the Judge's decision.
Another man older than Josiah came into the clinic. Mrs. Wells and her daughter exchanged pleasantries before departing. Mr. Larabee frowned once when Nettie mentioned Jesse's one and only attempt for freedom. Jesse knew better than to look up after that discussion for he could feel the peacekeeper's heated glare.
Noticing Chris' glare, Nettie reiterated, "He's a good boy, a little willful, but that's to be expected after what he's been through. Don't be too hard on him."
"I won't unless I find it to be necessary." So the decision had been made concerning Jesse's fate. It would seem that Mr. Larabee, having had the experience of child rearing was nominated the boy's self-appointed guardian. Nettie silently wished both Chris and Jesse the best of luck. The fates would have their work cut out for them between those two willful, stubborn souls.
She shooed Casey out the door and before Vin offered his arm she said, "Jesse."
"Ma'am." He figured he best be kind or one of these men would light into him.
"You mind what these men have to say. Judging by your lack of conversation, I'd say your situation could be a lot worse and lately it seems to have been. Keep in mind, they're trying to help you and if you ever need to talk to someone you come and find me. I'll listen when no one else seemingly is willing. You hear me."
He only had to mull her words over for a moment. She was a tough old bird, but she did show him some kindness. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
"That's a good boy. Vin, you can now escort me to my wagon."
The tracker touched the brim of his hat while he said, "With pleasure Miz Nettie." Then with a glance back over his shoulder Vin said to Chris, "Watch your back, cowboy." He chuckled as Chris sent a murderous glare his way.
Wasting no more time Judge Travis began to speak. Chris hobbled over to the edge of the bed and sat down giving his injured knee a reprieve for a while. "Now young sir, I believe it is time for us to talk."
Uh oh, this didn't sound good. Nettie's words came back and Jesse started to become really unsettled. Aw hell! If they even mentioned the orphanage he'd fight them every step of the way, he was not going back. Come hell or high water.
"You seem to have caused a bit of a ruckus among my peacekeepers. We know you were part of the Henry gang, but you keep insisting you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would like an answer. A truthful answer."
It was time to come clean as his father would have reminded him. With a defeated sigh, Jesse began his tale. "Okay, I was part of their gang, but it wasn't by choice. A few months ago I literally stumbled upon them. They could have killed me right then and there, yet I convinced them I could be of service to them."
"Like an extra gun, lookout and possible scout." Chris added.
The kid nodded. "I knew if I bided my time, I could escape. I was looking for that window of opportunity."
"So, when the bullets started flying that became your window of opportunity."
"Yeah, until you messed it all up." The kid groused.
Orrin knew there was more. "Where are your parents?"
"They're dead."
"Relatives?"
"None."
A little more prodding. "What brought you out this way? Chris tells me you're from Missouri."
"Like I told him, been shuffled around a bit. Orphanage to orphanage, different families and then…" He clammed up. Not sure if he should tell them anymore.
There it was, the reason this boy was here. "We can't help you if you won't tell us." Orrin tried a different tactic.
This man was cunning. He certainly knew how to get information out of someone. The wariness made Jesse hesitate.
Chris watched and learned more about the boy as Orrin questioned him. He saw the wariness that he and his men displayed time and time again. To see it again in another boy's eyes made Chris' heart ache. Someone long ago had stolen this boy's happiness and Chris was now all the more determined to restore it in some way or form.
Jesse didn't know why he was about to tell them this, but for some reason it felt right. "I'm from Kansas City. My father and mother were Ethan and Tess Ryder. They were killed because of what they believed in. Justice."
"Do you know who killed them?"
Jesse nodded. "I'm sure you know this part. The papers said it were some of the local cattlemen. I wouldn't put it past them if they had a hand in it."
"You're saying they may have played a part in it."
Again the boy nodded. "They're probably the ones who profited from their deaths. The ones responsible are the ones who upheld the same justice as my parents."
"They were lawmen!" Orrin exclaimed.
Jesse spat, "Fellow lawmen."
