Wow, it's been a while. I was working at getting some big issues taken care of and now it's official, I'm a college graduate. Yay!!!
So, I've decided as a celebration to get this damn story posted for ya'll to finish reading. The remainder is not going to be betaed so deal with it. My plan is to get it up before x-mas. That's about 8 more chapters that are already written.
The Other Side
Chapter 11
Sara was desperately trying to keep her eyes open as they rode. The soft rocking motion of the horse as they walked along the rocky land wasn't helping. She estimated that they had been riding for over ten hours. The sun had risen and was now beginning it's decent to the west.
Her entire body was sore from the hard leather saddle and her position upon the horse. They had only stopped for a few short breaks to let the horses eat since they fled.
"Honey." Gil rode up beside her and touched her shoulder.
"Hmm." She murmured and tried to sit up under his touch.
He reached down and pulled the reins of her horse, bringing him to a stop. Grey Wolf and Jim stopped behind them. "What's wrong?" Jim asked concern evident in his voice.
"We need to stop." Gil dismounted and helped his exhausted wife from her horse.
The former sheriff removed their bed rolls and saddle bags while Grey Wolf began unsaddling the horses. Gil spread out a few of the blankets in the shade of a small tree. He removed his jacket and folded it over for a pillow. He took a hold of her hands and eased Sara down to the ground. She was practically asleep before her head hit his makeshift pillow. Gil eased down next to her and softly stroked her hair as she slept.
Once everything was taken care of, Jim spread his bedroll not far from where Sara and Gil were lying. Grey Wolf perched himself atop a large rock and sat still. His eyes scanned over the horizon. With the sun still lighting the land, he was able to see any danger before it got too close.
Gil had Sara wrapped up in his arms as she slept. His hand was rubbing soft continuous circles over her very swollen abdomen. He knew that all of this extra stress could cause problems with her and his unborn child. While lying still, Gil felt the slight bump against his hand as it rested on Sara's stomach. A grin crossed his face as he rubbed the spot getting another bump.
Jim was able to see the couple from his position. He could see his friend smile. His thoughts raced as he began to blame himself for their situation. If only he had just agreed to let them leave instead of arresting Gil. If it wasn't for the governor he would have been able to stay with Heather. Jim was certain that without Gil in jail, he would have been killed. So, as a last resort he chose to run with them.
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Sara stirred when she heard the uneasiness of the horses. She stretched and opened her eyes. Once they were clear, she focused on Gil as he tossed his saddle bags over his horse. She watched quietly as he finished. Her smile grew when he turned to look at her. Gil moved over and kneeled down next to her. "Hi."
"Evening." She held up her hand, and he graciously accepted. He carefully helped her to her feet.
The sun was dipping lower towards the horizon as darkness neared. She was more than grateful for the few hours of rest. Even if the ground was hard, it was nice to just lie down.
She groaned as she struggled to her feet. "Are you okay?" Gil helped steady her until he was sure she could stand on her own. "Sara?"
Her hands went to help stretch her aching back, and with a smile she responded. "I'm fine." Sara looked around to see Grey Wolf already on his horse. Jim was getting his horse ready. "So, time to go I guess."
"We need to keep moving." Jim said before stepping onto his horse. "There's a town not too far off and we should be able to get there by dark."
Sara grinned and with Gil's help climbed aboard her horse. "I'll be glad we get to where ever we're going." She put a hand over her aching belly. "This isn't good for the baby."
Gil sighed. "I know, but right now we don't have an alternative."
"We do." Grey Wolf spoke up. Jim, Sara, and Gil glared at him in confusion. "If you can spare some time."
"Yes." Sara blurted out.
Gil glanced at Jim and shrugged. "I'm not going to argue with you." He helped her off of the horse.
Less than an hour later, Sara was lying comfortably on the sled constructed by Grey Wolf. Both Jim and Gil looked on in disbelief. "Is this going to work?"
"Yes, this is how our tribe moved."
"Well I like it." Sara smiled as she looked up to the three men standing around her.
She was skeptical at first when she had laid eyes on the two poles attached to the horse she had been riding. The hide stretched between them looked dangerous as well as comfortable to her. At first she was hesitant, but once the poles and hide relieved the weight from her aching back and feet, Sara was happy.
Gil gave his wife a wink and returned to his horse. Jim and Grey Wolf followed suit. Once settled in, Sara gave Gil and smile and he gathered the reins of her horse. At first they walked, but were soon up to an easy trot. They were all hoping to get as far away as fast as possible.
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Just after nightfall, they had made it to the small town and decided to get a proper nights rest, more for Sara than themselves. While Gil paid for two small rooms at the inn, Jim went about to gather some supplies, while Grey Wolf tended to the horses at the livery stable before returning to the inn.
Jim wandered past the telegraph office and pondered about sending word to Heather that they were safely on their way to the North West. He shook the idea and headed back to the awaiting room. As he passed the law enforcement office a sign stopped him dead in his tracks. He scanned the document as any passerby would do then picked up his normal pace.
Sara was enjoying herself in the back of the small hotel enjoying a hot bath. She let her head fall back as the warm water slowly eased the tension from her muscles. Gil sat on a nearby chair and just watched as the water covered her body except for her belly.
He had never been on this side of the law. Now he was the fugitive, he was the one running for his life. Experience told him that they would always be hunted, but if he could get them far away, the chances of ever being found were slim. But now he was more concerned with the task at hand. Gil observed Sara's face change as the discomfort ceased, but he also noticed that she would also wince occasionally. Fear began to sink in that his baby would soon be born.
"Hey." Gil was shaken from his trance at Sara's voice. "What are you thinking about?"
He grinned. "You and the baby." She was quick to place a hand over her stomach. "How do you feel?"
She closed her eyes and settled as deep into the water as she could. "Total relaxation."
With a smile, Gil picked up one of the several books that were lying on the table near him and opened it up.
Sara opened her eyes after several moments of silence. "Do you even know how to read?"
Gil glanced over the top of the book. "Yes." She grinned at his response. "What, don't believe me?"
"You just don't see many gunfighters with reading skills." She locked her eyes with his as they narrowed at her remark. "Prove it." He cleared his throat and began reading to her.
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The governor was still sitting behind the vacant sheriff's desk after the sun went down. His men had no idea where on earth the fugitives had headed. He was flipping the brass star and letting it bounce off the wooden top. The thought of being able to hang the man responsible for his brother's death was far from his mind; he just wanted them all dead and he didn't care how.
He was patiently letting time pass by thinking, but the sound of a horse stopping fast outside brought his mind to a halt. The clang of spurs and the heavy footfalls had him glancing up. "Took ya long enough."
"Yeah well, I was about fifty miles south, and I just got the message this morning."
The governor sat up and glanced outside. "I'm surprised your horse is still alive."
"I stopped half way and traded for this one. Your message said it was urgent."
"Nicky…" He stood up and walked around the desk.
"I told you to stop calling me that, Tom." Nic fired back.
"And I've told you repeatedly to call me Dad."
"I would, if you really were." Tom drew back and began to swing as if he was going to hit Nic, but his hand was stopped by the other man's quick reflexes. "Don't you dare think you are going to hit me?"
Tom nodded. "Then straighten up."
Nic narrowed his eyes at his would-be father. "What do you want?"
"Your uncle Sam, if you still consider him family, was murdered. The man responsible was caught and then let loose by the good sheriff."
"Where's the sheriff? You kill him already?" Nic laughed momentarily.
Tom scoffed. "If only. No, he is running with him."
The young gunfighter nodded and moved about the small office area. "How many men are we talking here?"
"I don't know, and I don't care. Kill everyone they are with." He got an understanding nod in response. "And I want you to leave tonight."
A deep scoff was quick to escape Nic's lips. "You don't know how many there are, or where they are going. How in the hell do you expect me to track them in the dark?"
Tom narrowed his eyes. "You sure do have a smart mouth for only nineteen years old."
Nic turned to leave but paused at the door. "And don't say like father, like son, because you're not my father." He stepped out.
"Since I raised you as my own, that should count for something." Tom approached the door and called out to Nic. "Your real father was probably some dead beat drunk." The young man narrowed his eyes as he untied his horse and proceeded to walk down the street with his mount following behind.
He calmly strode down the dusty street until he found himself at the lively brothel. Nic secured his horse to the post and glanced inside over the pair of swinging doors. After a quick evaluation of the patrons, he entered and took up a spot at the bar. He ordered a whiskey and quickly downed it, wincing at the burning liquid.
"Don't you think you're a little young yet to be drinking that?" Heather appeared next to him.
Nic glanced at the woman next to him. "What do you know about me?" He nodded to the bartender who poured him another drink. Heather snatched it before he could pick it up. "What the hell!?"
She waved off the bartender and drank the shot herself. "Nicholas James shut up will you?" The gunfighter was taken aback as this strange woman said his given name. "Come with me." Heather stood and proceeded to walk to the rear doors.
For a moment Nic watched her walk away before standing to follow. He didn't know why he was, but the mystery intrigued him. Once secured in the back room and Heather shut the door, he asked out loud. "What do you want?"
Please sit. She offered him a seat as she sat down herself. He sat on the edge of the small cushioned chair. "I want to tell you about your parents." Nic's mouth opened slightly in astonishment. "I know who they are." Heather calmly took a seat next to the small comforting fireplace. "I have a feeling I know why you're here, and before I tell you what I know, I want to know exactly why you are here."
Nic's face turned to confusion. "Why I'm here?" Heather nodded. He shrugged. "To apprehend the man who killed Sam and the people with him."
"Are you going to actually catch them, or just kill them?" She eyed him and noticed that he was trying to hide the truth. "Tell me the truth, or I won't tell you what I know."
"Umm… well Tom wants me to kill them."
Heather inclined her head. "That's what I thought."
The teen looked at her while she pondered. "Tell me what you know."
She nodded. "Okay. You were raised by my sister."
"Yes, my mother." Heather shook her head. Nic's mouth fell open to speak but Heather's words were quick to stop him.
"Nic, she raised you, not gave birth to you." He began to sink into a deep confusion. "I did." The young face fell to shock. "I was unable at the time to be caring for an infant, so my sister took you as her own. Your father at the time was hunting outlaws as you are doing now."
"I don't get it." Nic gasped in disbelief.
Heather smiled. "I know it's a lot to take in." She let him absorb everything for a moment.
Nic was taking deep strained breaths. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"If I had known where you were, I would have told you a long time ago. And if that low life that claims to be your father wasn't a jerk either." Heather paused as he repeated himself. "Because, your father is one of the men Tom wants you to kill."
The breath had been taken from his lungs. Heather delivered a deep blow to him without laying a finger upon his body. Nic stood on shaky legs and turned his back to her. He crossed the room and leaned on the wall as if he was desperate to stay standing. Heather sat quietly watching him, hoping that he believed her, and hoped that he would make the decision to not hunt them down.
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Bobby rode upon the cold pile of burned wood. He leapt from his horse and ran to investigate. As he walked around he noticed the dirt mounds off to the side. Bobby swallowed hard as he approached them. His eyes squinted as he read the names carved onto the make shift crosses. Tears streaked down his eyes as he mourned his friends, but he then pondered about what happened to those who survived.
With a quick pace, he climbed on his horse and headed for town. Bobby went to the small jail and burst through the door. He glanced around to find the place empty. "Jim." He called out but received no answer.
After a moment, Bobby headed for the next best place. He entered the quiet brothel and searched for a familiar face. With a tremendous weight on his shoulders, Bobby went to sit next to the bar and wait.
Heather walked out with Nic in tow when she noticed Bobby sitting across the room. She approached him. "Bobby."
He quickly stood and accepted the hug she offered. "I was at the house. What happened?"
"Perhaps you had better sit down." Heather tried to calm the agitated man.
"I saw the graves, but where are Gil, Nick, Greg, Warrick, and Sara?"
Nic inclined his head. He wanted to know this information as well. Heather turned and offered him a seat. "I'll tell you what I know." After a moment they all sat down at the table. "I don't know what caused what, but all I know is that Gil went after Sam, while Sam went after Gil. Sam's dead, along with everyone but Gil and Sara made it."
Bobby's mouth fell open in disbelief. Nic watched on and tried to gauge the other man on where he was at the time everything went down. Heather knew it wasn't the best idea on letting Nic listen in on their conversation, but she thought maybe it would change his mind on hunting down the small group of fugitives if was to know the exact situation.
"Gil was arrested and once Jim found out that it was Sam's brother who had been appointed governor and was coming…" She paused. "Jim couldn't sit back and watch his friend be killed without being tried."
"Why was everyone so oblivious to Sam's actions around here?" Bobby burst out in anger.
Nic grew confused. "I don't get it."
Heather turned to him. "Sam bullied everyone who tried to graze cattle around here. He would order his men to steal their herds and kill anyone who got into their way. Al and Gil were the only ones to take a stand, only Al wasn't as lucky."
"What happened to Al?" The gunfighter questioned.
With a sigh she revealed the events that lead up to his horrible death. Bobby sat back and thought for a moment while Nic pondered his possible actions.
"Wait." Bobby sprung to life. "I've always heard about Sara wanting to continue west. She said she missed seeing snow."
"So, you think they could've gone West?" Nic questioned the other man.
Heather's eyes grew wide in shock. "You wouldn't?"
Nic stood and straightened his duster. "Only if I find them, now that I have an idea of where to start looking." He left quickly, the doors swinging wildly from his departure.
Bobby was confused. "Who was that?"
Heather put her head in her hands. "The man hired to hunt Gil and Jim down."
"Oh my God!" He gasped. "What have I done?"
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Gil and Sara settled into the cozy room for the night, while Jim and Grey Wolf rested in the neighboring one. Jim stretched out onto the bed while Grey Wolf happily lay on the hard floor.
"Can I ask you something?" Jim rested with his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling.
"Sure." Grey Wolf answered solomly.
"Did you have any children?"
There was a long pause before the response came. "My first wife died in childbirth." Silence overtook the room. Jim continued to stare into space when the silence was broken. "And you?"
A small smile broke his hardened face. "I was very young when I met the love of my life. I was gone most of the time, hunting outlaws." Jim shifted to make himself more comfortable. "We were never married but if being in love wasn't enough, I wouldn't know what the next step would be." Jim smiled as he thought about the past. "There was a period when I was gone for nearly a year. When I returned I could tell that there was something different about her. Like she was hiding something."
"Did she ever tell you?"
"Eventually." Jim sucked in a deep breath and held it. "She was pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy."
Grey Wolf sat up to look at Jim. "Where is the boy now?"
"She told me that since we didn't lead normal lives, she sent him to be raised by her sister. I've never seen him." Jim released eye contact with the off colored ceiling and looked towards Grey Wolf. "He would be about nineteen or so now, and I haven't a clue as to where he is or what he does."
So now we know the extent of where this other Nic comes from. But will he actually find them and kill them….stay tuned.
TDCSI
