HONORABLE INTENTIONS
CHAPTER TEN
"Daisy! Jess is hurt." Slim yelled out, loud enough to wake the dead.
He sat me down at the table, dropping the saddlebags on top and called out to Daisy again. Mike came running out of his room, took one look at me and stopped.
"Did ya hurt your hand again, Jess?"
Slim turned to look at Mike so quick I thought he was gonna do himself another injury. "Mike? What do you mean 'again'?"
"Uh...um...nothin'..."
"Tiger, it's okay." Then turning to Slim, I said, "I hurt it some changin' the team yesterday, it weren't nothin'."
Slim slicked back his hair and turned to me then back to Mike. "Mike, go find Daisy and tell her Jess is hurt and needs some doctoring."
Mike ran outside and Slim pulled up a chair, swung one long leg over and sat next to me, holding his left arm real still with his right.
Daisy came in, puffing like she'd been hurrying and wearing a look like she was dreading what she was going to find. Young Mike followed on her heels.
"Jess. Slim, what's happened?" She tried to take in everything at once but mostly she seemed to be trying to figure out what was wrong with me. "Mike told me you'd been hurt, Jess. Is it your knee?"
She was at my side, studying the tattered hole in the knee of my pants.
Slim spoke up before I had a chance." It's his hand, Daisy. Looks like it's broke."
She gave me a long look then eased my hand away from where I had it tucked against my body and drew in a sharp breath. "Oh Jess. I think Slim's right. How did it happen?"
Slim huffed, "Told me it happened two days ago." I could tell Slim was just bustin' to start up again, "The darned fool thought he'd keep it a secret from everyone."
"Weren't no use complainin'… wouldn't a had no chance of getting you and Mike to town if you knew about this," I said, nodding towards my hand.
Daisy didn't say anything. Just dropped one of them bear-killin' looks on me again.
"I knew." Mike said, proudly. "Me and Jess are pardners."
"Well, it doesn't really matter when it happened, does it?" Daisy said, studying my hand real close and tsking in that doctorly way she does."We need to get the swelling down. Mike, run out and get me some water from the well, please? How did it happen, Jess?"
Mike left to get the water and I explained to Daisy about Deevy and his boys. Of course, that riled Slim even more. Don't know why he was actin' so surprised… told him it was two days ago.
"You mean to tell me you took on the Morgan boys with your hand like that?" Slim said, standing up and starting to pace again.
"Well whatdya expect me to do? Lay down and let 'em shoot me?"
"No, I expect you to...Oh, what's the use, I'd be wastin' my breath anyway." Slim stopped his pacing and rubbed at his injured arm.
"Why don't you sit down, Pard," I said, "You ain't exactly settin' a great example yourself, ya know."
Slim's look went from annoyed to frustrated to out and out knowing I was right. He swung a leg over the chair again and sat.
"Looks bad, Jess." He said, wincing as he peered at my bruised and swollen hand.
That's the thing about Slim. He's got that do-gooder way about him and gets all worked up when he thinks you been actin' stupid, but he ain't one to hold a grudge, as long as you're not outright breakin' the law that is.
"I'll live." I said, and then made a grimace of my own when Daisy started pokin' around my knuckles with her fingers.
"Oh, Jess, I knew last night you weren't well." She shook her head. "You looked so tired and pale when you came inside. I should have paid more attention."
"Ain't any of this is your fault, Daisy, it was all my doin'. You can fix it for me though, can't you? I still got the splints and bandages the doc gave me." I didn't miss the quick look that passed between Slim and her. Yeah, I knew I'd acted like a darned fool but did they have to keep remindin' me?
"I can bandage and splint it, but you really should have the doctor take a look."
"Already done that, Daisy, he didn't do no more'n what you're gonna do." Sides I didn't want Doc Burns giving me that same look and lecture Slim'd just been dishin' out.
"Aunt Daisy? I got the water." Mike had come back, carrying a bucket of water, and a look that told us he was mighty proud of himself.
"Thank you, Mike. Put it in the kitchen, I'll be along in a minute." Daisy let go of my hand and I pulled it back against my chest. "I'll be right back."
"Slim… how're we gonna get Daisy to go into town now? Ain't no way she'll go knowin' 'bout this." I said, holding up my hand.
"Might be safer if she stays here."
"Saf… This'll be the first place they come lookin'."
"And if they do, we'll be ready for them. There's nothing wrong with my gun hand and you managed alright yesterday. You can fire a scatter gun, you won't even have to aim."
"No."
"Whadda you mean 'no'?"
"I can't just sit around waiting for them to show up. I'm gonna ride into town and find out what's happenin' for myself. 'Sides… they mightn't bother 'bout comin' out here if they see me ride out."
"So you're just gonna ride on out and what… draw their fire? Is that what it comes down to?"
"Yeah… somethin' like that. But I ain't gonna make it easy for 'em, that's for sure. I'll send Mort or his deputy out here to keep an eye on things, least you'll have one able bodied man to defend the place. And I got some unfinished business with Morgan's girl I gotta take care of." I thought of the money still in my shirt pocket. Money I'd promised her then clean forgot to hand over. I was worried about the fella who was hanging around yesterday, tellin' Daisy he was heading out to the Walker place. Gladys Moore's house… and her out there all alone.
"I've seen that hard-headed look often enough to know there's no talking you out of it." Slim said, frowning and chewin' on his lip.
"I reckon not. Slim… I can't just sit around and wait… it don't work like that for me."
"Yeah, I know, Pard. But that doesn't mean I gotta like it."
Daisy came back with the water and a towel, placed them on the table and then gently picked up my hand and eased it into the bowl. The cold water closed over my knuckles and it was hurtin' like all get-out. I sucked in a sharp breath and gritted my teeth.
"Jess, did I hear you say you're ridin' into town?" She asked, swishing some water over the back of my hand. "I really don't think that's a good idea."
"Me neither, Daisy, but I ain't got a lot a choice."
"Of course you do. There has to be another way."
"If there is, I'd be mighty happy to hear it."
Daisy pursed her lips, frowning and went quiet. She had to know I was right, but I wasn't sure she was willing to let it rest
I scrubbed at my eyes, then leaned my left elbow on the table and rested my head on my hand, taking in some long slow breaths.
"How much longer, Daisy?" I asked, keeping my face hidden and breathing hard.
"As long as you can put up with it, Jess. I'm sorry, I know you're uncomfortable but I would really like to get some of the swelling down before I bandage your hand. You know, if you'd come to me about this in the first place it wouldn't be so bad now."
I nodded, knowing she was right but not trustin' myself to speak. And then I couldn't hold back a groan. It just clean escaped out of my mouth 'fore I could rein it in.
I felt another hand on my shoulder. Smaller and lighter. "You gonna be okay, Jess?"
Mike was by my side. I lifted my head and saw a whole lot of worry on his young face. "Yeah, Tiger. Daisy's gonna fix me up good as new." And I forced a smile to try and ease his frettin'.
"I'm sorry you got hurt, Jess." He said, those big eyes of his looking like he had all the troubles of the world sitting on his shoulders. "If I hadn't yelled so loud and frightened Violet… you wouldn't a been hurtin' so bad."
"I've been hurt a lot worse 'n' this, Mike."
"Mike, why don't you go and get me some more bandages out of the top drawer from the dresser in my room?" Daisy said. "That would be a big help." She smiled at him and he looked from me to her to me again.
"Hey, Tiger, we're pardners, remember, and pards take care of each other, so I'd sure appreciate it if you would do like Daisy asked."
"Are ya sure yer gonna be okay?" He said, still hesitatin'.
"Sure I'm sure." I said, sitting up in my chair.
He nodded, then headed off to the bedroom.
Finally, Daisy announced I could take my hand out of the icy water. Mike brought more bandages and Daisy wrapped and splinted my hand, adding the sling as the final touch. Then she stood back and looked me over and for the first time in two days I felt like smilin'. There was Slim and me, both of us sittin' at the table with an arm in a sling.
"Jess?"
"Yeah, Daisy?"
"Why did you feel you had to hide you were hurt? Don't you trust us?"
"No, Daisy, that ain't it! You know how I feel about you...all of you." I hung my head staring at my boots.
"Then why? Do you really have so little regard for my ability to cope that you think it's okay for me to leave when the going get's tough?" I hate it when she talks in that calm, gentle way of hers, specially when she's tryin' to make me say somethin' I ain't wantin' to. I glanced up, she was standin' there looking at me, waitin' and it was makin' me feel like I oughta be crawlin' under a rock with them critters out in the woodpile.
"It ain't that, Daisy… it's… it… this thing with the Morgans… it's eatin' me up inside. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you… or Mike or old hardrock here on account of that sidewinder wantin' to get back at me."
"Jess Harper. We're a family. Maybe not your conventional one, but a family none-the-less and families look out for each other. You're not alone in this and you don't have to face it alone so you can stop all that talk about not wanting to worry us. We're a lot tougher than you think. And if you're hurt, you need to say so… not go around hiding it." She turned to Slim, "Isn't that right?"
Even he was startin' to squirm under Daisy's words, and he weren't too bad at dishin' them out himself when he felt the need.
"Uh...yeah...you're not doing anyone any favours by busting yourself up more, means you'll be out of action longer. And I'm not paying you to be laying around with a busted hand...or anything else for that matter."
"Slim!" She gave Slim a look I sure was glad I weren't on the end of.
"It was a joke, Daisy." Slim fought his grin, tryin' to make out like he was sorry but it wasn't workin' too well. Still, Daisy seemed to forgive him.
"Well, anyway, we'll have no more of you pretending everything's fine when it isn't." She patted my shoulder and smiled. "Now, I'm going to fix you both some breakfast," Daisy said, picking up the bowl of water and towel." Do you feel like eating anything, Jess?"
"Sure, Daisy. I'm feelin' better now. Thanks," I said, letting out a slow breath and thinkin' next time I might think twice before trying to hide anything from her. But I was still set on riding out soon as I was done eating.
Daisy sent Mike off to get ready for school with plans to send him to the Ferguson's when school got out. I didn't like it but I was outnumbered by both Slim and Daisy and I didn't want to go making a fuss in front of the boy. Daisy headed into the kitchen to start cooking, leaving me and Slim alone at the table.
"Did Mort know?" Slim asked.
"Know what?"
He nodded at my arm in the sling.
"It wasn't his problem."
"Of course not, he's just the law in Laramie."
"I made the mistake, no need for Mort to be getting' himself shot up on my account."
Slim sat silent for a moment, and it wasn't the kinda silence that feels easy. I stared at the table, flickin' at it with my finger. Waiting.
"It doesn't make a friend feel good when another one doesn't trust him enough to ask for help," he finally said.
Yeah, I knew that was comin'. I could a bet a month's pay on Slim wantin' to finish what he started in the barn.
I lifted my head and looked him in the eye. "Well it don't make a friend feel good, neither, if that other friend gets himself killed on account of bein' asked for help."
Slim shook his head slowly and smiled. "Jess, you gotta let go of that feeling the whole world's your responsibility. It's not like that."
"Maybe. But my troubles are my troubles, no one else's." I went back to flickin' at the table top, heard Slim huff a big sigh.
"After all this time? Living here? You really believe that?"
I thought about my time at the ranch. We sure been through some scrapes together over time. "I dunno, Slim. Maybe not, but it ain't easy to break old habits."
"It's like you told Mike, friends look out for each other." There it was; his ace in the hole, throwin' my own words back at me. I couldn't really argue, neither.
"Yeah, I know it." I said, running my finger around in circles then scrapin' at a splinter of wood messin' up the smooth finish on the table top.
"Good. Well, try remembering it next time." He gave me a punch on my arm and I knew he'd gotten over his need to have his say.
Daisy brought us in some breakfast.
My stomach had quit whatever'd been botherin' it and I was shoveling eggs and bacon and biscuits into my mouth like I hadn't seen food for a week. And Daisy's coffee was just the ticket to wash it all down.
Not long after we finished eatin', the morning stage rolled in and it took all my effort to push myself to my feet. My hand was feelin' better now Daisy had steadied it some but my knee was givin' me fits.
"You gonna be able to handle the team, Jess?" Slim asked, gettin' to his feet, too.
"Yeah, I reckon with Mose helpin', we'll get it done," I said, and then seein' Slim reach for his hat on the peg I added, "Don't you get any ideas about helpin'. You ain't in no shape to be changing the team."
"Oh and you are?" He said, aiming a look at the sling around my neck.
"I ain't as bad off as you, so just stay put." I saw how bad he was hurtin'yesterday. And that was when he was laying in bed.
Slim looked out the window. "Looks like it won't matter, Pard. Mose has Sam ridin' shotgun with him."
I went to the window and had a look and sure enough, big Sam Johnson was sittin' up beside Mose, nursin' a shotgun across his knee. Can't say I was too disappointed to see him there. Made me feel better 'bout Mike ridin' into town with Sam up on the box.
Both Slim and me went out to meet them.
"Well now, ain't you two a sight, both of ya standing there with an arm in a sling." Mose just couldn't help his smart remark as he climbed down off of his seat. "I see ya got found out, Jess. Didn't figure you'd be able to keep it a secret for long, not the way you was hurtin' yesterday."
Slim shot me a look that said we'd be talking about that later, too. I let him enjoy the moment and kept my mouth shut.
Sam and Mose changed the team and didn't need help from me or Slim. When it was done I turned to Sam and said," Sam, I'd be much obliged if you could help me saddle my horse."
"Sure thing, Jess. We got time, ain't we Mose?" Sam asked.
"Sure, it don't look like no one else around here's in any shape to help him." Turning to me, Mose asked, "Where're you heading off to, Jess?"
"I got some business to take care of with Mort." I said, steppin off the porch to make my way to the barn. "Uh… Mose? You ain't seen that fella from yesterday hangin' around, have ya?"
"Can't say as I have, Jess. Why? He ain't causing trouble is he?"
"Not yet."
ssSSss
Sam helped me saddle up and then he and Mose went on their way.
I went back inside and got my gun belt off of the peg. I made three tries at doin' it up but it wasn't workin' with only one hand. Slim, still giving me that scowling look of his helped me get the belt buckled and the tie secured round my leg.
"You sure you gotta do this, Jess? Mose could've sent for Mort."
"Told ya already, there's something I gotta take care of with Morgan's girl."
"I don't like it Jess…"
"You just make sure ya got yer wits about you, Slim. I'll send Mort out on my way through town."
"Well, you be careful.
"You bet."
One last thing I needed to do. I went back in the house and got my derringer from the drawer in the bedroom and makin' sure it was loaded, shoved it down in my left boot.
All the way into town I was half-expecting to get shot at again. But nothin' happened and I couldn't decide if it was a good thing or a bad. If they'd come after me, least I'd know where they were at.
I planned to stop at Mort's on the way through town to visit Miss Moore but when I got there he was out at the Dolman ranch… had some paperwork for Griff's wife to sign and wouldn't be back for a couple hours. I left a message with Seb Dillon who was deputying for him. Told Seb to pass onto Mort I was heading out to the Walker place and asked for someone to go check on things back at the ranch. No one'd seen hide nor hair of Deevy since day before yesterday. Not exactly the news I'd been hoping for. Seb said he'd let Mort know 'bout my concerns. Yeah, sounded real sincere… seems I'm the only one taking Deevy's threat seriously. Seb wasn't none too friendly, neither.
Continued in Chapter eleven