First off, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting! I meant to update sooner, but it completely slipped my mind... I promise the next update will be quicker! Please enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

Jess's shoulders stiffened, and his hand automatically dropped to brush against his right leg, groping for a gun that wasn't there. A cynical smile played on his lips. The famous ex-gunfighter, unarmed and helpless as a newborn. Though the irony was lost on the intruder, it was bitterly clear to Jess.

"Get your hands where we can see 'em real good." Listening closely, Jess heard feet treading lightly on the hard-packed dirt floor of the barn, approaching from behind as he lifted his hands.

"Turn around... slow." A second voice, more distant than the first.

Jess complied, his jaw set angrily. He hadn't heard them ride up, so they must have been hiding in the barn even before he came outside. He could make a pretty fair guess at who they were. "What do you want?"

"A place to hole up." The reply was clipped, and a firm hand fell on Jess's shoulder. "Anybody else here besides your friend in the house?"

"No. Just the two of us." An uncomfortable silence followed his mumbled words. Jess could feel two sets of scrutinizing eyes looking him up and down. He lifted his chin slightly, the mild display of bravado heightened by the set of his jaw.

The second, harsher voice broke the silence. "Why won't you look him in the eye, friend?"

The man's tone carried a mocking sneer that unnerved the robust young rancher. Jess's heart pounded in his ears. The blood drained from his face. His gun hand closed around air, his fist drawing tight with anger.

Jess's clearly muted rage elicited a heartless laugh. "What, are you scared or somethi-"

"Will." The voice was edged with steel, its evenness showing maturity years beyond that of his younger friend. This man commanded respect, and it took only that one word for Will to fall silent. "What's the matter, boy? You blind or somethin'?"

"Or somethin'. Yeah." Jess grated, the muscles in his jaw working in frustration. "You're the ones that killed Jim Kelly, huh?"

Jess flinched as the second voice – Will's – sounded right by his ear. "Naw, it wasn't Ben. He even tried to stop me. Wanted the whole operation to be nice and clean, nobody gettin' hurt."

"That's enough, Will." The first man laid a hand on Jess's arm, tugging on him, and he stumbled back a few steps. "Come on, boy. I don't wanna have to hurt you, so don't do anythin' stupid and I promise I'll leave you and your friend alive."

"Aw, you ain't gonna try nothin', are you?" A second, rougher hand jerked Jess around and shoved him forward. Unprepared for the sudden movement, the slender cowboy stumbled and nearly fell. "You're gonna behave real nice for us, ain't you?"

"Watch it, friend," Jess warned, the gravel of his words grating low and cold. He hated being helpless. Blind or not, his tolerance and submission were drawing thin. Exercising what little restraint he had left, Jess stood rigidly in the center of the barn, waiting for a guiding hand to help him toward the house. As badly as he wanted to call out to warn Slim, he was certain that his efforts would get not only himself, but also Slim shot if his partner made a break for the corral. There was a shuffling of feet, then he was urged forward firmly, but cautiously.

"You ain't been blind long, huh?" Jess almost stopped walking, he was so taken aback by the guarded curiosity in Ben's tone.

"A month, give or take," he admitted slowly. "How'd you know?"

Beside him, Ben let out a whoosh of breath. "You're still gettin' used to it. You move real careful-like, kinda hesitatin'."

Jess's only reply was a quiet nod. The outlaw's mild concern took him off guard; he seemed reluctant to harm Jess, and clearly hadn't approved of Jim Kelly's murder.

The hard-packed earth of the yard turned wooden under Jess's boots. He was jerked to a halt outside the front door just long enough for a sharp, whispered "Remember, play it cool" to bristle hot against his ear; then the door swung open and a hand slammed into his shoulder, sending him stumbling across the threshold.

"You're pushin' it, mister!" Jess roared, his temper flaring up despite the gun prodding his side.

"Jess..."

Slim's voice turned Jess's head, and he sucked in a deep breath, letting it hiss out through his teeth. "They killed Jim Kelly, Slim."

"They're the ones?" Slim asked warily, moving slowly towards his partner. Jess's grumbled "yeah" was barely audible. The dark-haired man's stance was stiff and rigid, not daring to take a step without knowing exactly where Will and Ben stood.

"Move," Ben grunted, nudging Jess forward with the muzzle of his revolver. "Take a seat."

Slim drug the old rocker closer, giving his friend a soft scraping noise to follow. Jess's searching hand found the sanded wood of the chair, and Slim turned fiery eyes onto the two intruders. "You've got no call to-"

"Easy, mister, we're just hiding out until the law cools off." Will gestured to the gun belts hanging on their pegs, and the rifles on the wall. "Those the only irons in the house?" Slim's slight hesitation prompted Will to add threateningly, "Don't lie to us. We'll find the others soon enough."

"We've got a few more," Slim admitted. "A revolver in the desk, two rifles in the bedroom."

Ben jerked his head at Will. "Get the guns. You," he said, turning his attention to Slim, "Sit at the table."

Slim obeyed slowly, quelling the voice inside that urged him to grab for Will's gun when he passed by. He knew he'd only get himself – and Jess, for that matter – killed; so he stiffly lowered himself into the straight-backed chair, tensed to spring if the opportunity arose.

Will emerged from the bedroom only a moment later, and Jess flinched as the armful of guns landed in the corner with a loud clatter. "They're all unloaded." The killer showed Ben a handful of bullets before shoving them into his vest pocket. "Sheriff been by here yet?" he asked Jess and Slim, eyes narrowing.

"Early today," Jess answered tightly. "He's bound and determined to find you, and he ain't the type to give up easy."

"I ain't hangin'!" Will shouted, his voice rising sharply. "Quiet down or I'll have more bodies or your sheriff to bury!"

"Easy, Will." Ben's tone was hard, with no give in it. His heavy grip fell on his partner's arm, forcing him to lower his gun hand. "I don't want more blood on my hands."

The younger outlaw shoved his weapon into its holster, fingers twitching nervously. "If the two of them behave real nice, it won't come to that." He turned on his heel, reaching Slim in a few long strides. "The sign out there says 'Sherman Ranch'. You Sherman?"

"Yeah."

"He work here?" Ben asked, waving his gun in Jess's direction. Jess sat rigidly in the wooden rocker, his vacant stare bright with anger.

Slim nodded curtly. "Jess helps me run the stage stop and keep up the ranch."

"Jess Harper?" Will raised an eyebrow in the dark-haired man's direction, after a quick glance at the paperwork strewn across the desk. At the top of the pile was a stack of mail, several letters plainly labeled 'Jess Harper'.

Jess's head dipped quickly, the nod amplified by a soft grunt of affirmation.

Will slowly drew his gun, letting it hang loosely by his side. "Well, boys, now that we're acquainted, let's get comfortable. We'll be spending a bit of time together."

"You've already outstayed your welcome," Jess snarled. Every muscle in his face tightened with rigid anger.

Will started to rise, hand poised to strike, but Ben stepped smoothly between his young accomplice and his furious captive, putting a restraining hand on Will's shoulder. "Look, Harper." Ben gripped Jess's arm firmly. "I won't keep him off you any longer. I'm warnin' you now, he don't take to nobody mouthin' off at him. Keep a lid on it, or I can't stop him from settin' on you. Understand?"

Jess's hands curled into white-knuckled fists. "Yeah, I hear you," he replied through clenched teeth.

Only then did Ben step back, with a warning glance at his partner. Slim had watched the whole exchange anxiously, ready to spring from his chair, should the need arise, to haul the murdering outlaw off of Jess. He'd always told Jess his temper would get him into trouble someday... he only prayed that day hadn't finally come.

Thanks for reading (and hopefully reviewing)! I'll update asap... please let me know how I did on this chapter, it was a challenge to write. Thanks again :)