Ch 14

Jimmy woke three days later. He cracked his eyes open and tried to lift his head to look around. He was in a room in Emma's house. Pain spasms ran down his neck into his back. He sucked in a breath which caused him to cough. The door burst open as Emma flew in. He watched her grab some water and come to the side of the bed.

"Drink this Jimmy. Just a little."

He did as she asked and laid his head back on the pillows. He didn't say anything.

"You don't know how happy I am to see those eyes of yours. Had me worried." Smiled Emma

Jimmy just looked at the wall away from her.

"How are you feelin? Can you talk to me?"

"Fine." He whispered.

"I really doubt that but I'll take it."

Jimmy didn't answer her.

"Jimmy Hickok look at me now."

He didn't make a move.

"Ya heard me."

He slowly moved tired eyes in her direction.

"That's more like it. Now I'm going to bring some food in shortly and you are gonna eat. Teaspoon will be in to talk ya soon and ya better talk. Now rest." She pulled the blanket up to his neck.

Jimmy watched as she walked out. He didn't deserve these people. He didn't know what he was going to do. He closed his eyes thinking about tomorrow.

He heard a knock come on his door later. He didn't acknowledge it but it opened anyway. Teaspoon walked in and pulled a chair.

"Jimmy, we need to talk bout some things that happened."

"Yeah."

"I have been sending word to the local Territorial Judge. I told him about things and sent statements from the doctors but he still ain't none too pleased."

Jimmy didn't even look in Teaspoon's direction.

"Jimmy. Son...there are witnesses that saw you shoot a lawman and his deputy. The fact that you didn't know who you were don't seem to make a damn. They want you to go to trial."

Jimmy closed his eyes and stayed silent.

"Once you are up to moving, I have to arrest you. I will keep you safe til your trial. Don't worry none bout that. But it will be awhile afore you can be moved with your injuries."

Jimmy looked at his hands. Murderous hands.

"Ya ain't got nothing to say?"

Jimmy thought for a moment before he answered.

"I don't want y'all to help me. I killed those men. I still see their faces clear as day. At the time, I enjoyed killing them. I need to hang for it."

"Ya got to understand that it wasn't you."

"Yeah it was. It was some deep down part of me. Like they told me, it just came natural. I need someone to end it before I feel that way again."

"It ain't gonna happen. I'm going to figure a way to get you out of this."

"So people can look at me and call me a murderer the rest of my life. Yeah."

"Don't jump to conclusions. We got a while. You will be in this bed for a few."

"I need to know what happened that night. Rhett."

Teaspoon sighed.

"A bounty hunter was there too. He shot Rhett through the chest. The bullet went through and struck you in yours as well. Thankfully it barely went through the skin. The boys said they busted the door down where ya locked them in. They got you and tried to pull you back inside. The bounty hunter shot again hitting you in the middle of the back. The shot missed your lung and backbone. Thank God it missed anything major. The doc was able to dig both pieces out."

"And Rhett?"

"Dead."

"The bounty hunter."

"Disappeared."

"And I'm alive for why? Tell me again?"

"Cause we love you Jimmy. We couldn't stand to let you die."

"So you'd be willing to let me suffer and people hate me the rest of my life."

"It ain't like that. I'll clear all this up."

"How long afore I can move ya think?"

"Ain't sure but we gonna drag it out as long as possible."

"Ok."

"Now rest. Emma's bringing ya food up."

The next few days the riders took turns coming in to visit with Jimmy though he didn't have much to say. He usually just sat and stared straight ahead. As soon as everyone would settle for the night, he would pull himself out of bed and walk around the room. He did this for a week straight until he felt he could stand with no unsteadiness. He waited for the others to hit the hay on the seventh day. He stood and dressed. He gathered his guns. He put his hat on and carefully made his way to the barn. He quickly saddled his horse only stopping once to catch his breath. He slowly pulled himself up in the saddle feeling the straining of his wounds as he did so. He sat on top his horse and took one long last look around at home. His home for the last two years. He turned and galloped out of the station.