Chapter 19 CITY SLICKERS
A short time later Carl and Hank returned with the buggy. They unharnessed, fed and watered the mare, and put the buggy away. Seeing Jess, they walked over to the porch.
"Hank, you and Carl sit her and keep watch, I'm gonna rest up; it's gonna be a long night."
The two men nodded in agreement, checked their rifles. Carl took the rocker and Hank brought a chair out of the house to sit on.
Jess laid on the sofa, he placed his rifle on the floor next to him. Jonesy went to rest up in the bunk room. Both men were restless and slept fitfully.
Jess woke with a start. Jonesy stood next to him.
"Didn't mean to started ya boy. "It's after 10, Jess, figured you'd want to be out in the yard with Carl and Hank. I made some coffee for ya?"
Jess rubbed the sleep from his eyes and took the offered cup of coffee.
"Thank's Jonesy." He drank the strong liquid and handed the empty cup back to the old man. When he stood he was surprised how sore his leg was.
Jonesy noted the Texan's pronounced limp.
"You best let me take a look at that leg, Jess."
"Nah, Jonesy, I'll be fine. I'll just be sittin' on the porch."
Jess checked his rifle before he rested it against the wall by the wash basin outside the kitchen. He splashed water on his face and chest, hoping the cold water would help sharpen his senses. He picked up his rifle and walked a slow circle around the house. He nodded at Hank where he sat by the fire in the yard and saluted Carl as he tended the fire in the corral. Both men seemed alert and waved back. Jess decided to check the rear of the barn where they'd seen the large bear tracks earlier.
Buttons, he noted, laid on the porch, head resting on his paws. The horses and milk cows were quiet. Maybe he'd over-reacted, he thought and decided to return to the porch.
Jess limped slowly across the yard. He stopped. Buttons had suddenly lifted his head and sniffed the air. The dog stood and emitted a low growl. His hair stood rigid along dogs neck as he backed up towards the house. Button's turned and scratched at the door.
"You sure are a brave one." Jess whispered to the mutt.
Jonesy opened the door and stepped out. The dog scrambled between the old man's legs anxious to get inside. Jonesy, lifted his shotgun.
"See anything Jess?" he asked.
"No Jonesy, seems Button's mighta' heard somethin'."
Jess heard the horses milling around in the barn. Carl screamed. Jess limped towards the corral. He could see the bear standing on his hind legs snarling at the frightened man. Carl was slowly backing away from the bear, his rifle at his shoulder. The bear dropped to all four and charged. Jess took aim. His bullet hit the bear high in its' left shoulder. It scarcely slowed him down. Jess and Hank ran towards where Carl lay. Hank fired again and again. His bullets entered the right side of the bear about his shoulder. The bear now was on all fours and surprised the men when he again stood and challenged Carl. Carl finally managed to stand. The irate bear was close. He lifted his rifle and fired into the bears' chest. The bear growled out in pain and dropped to all fours. Turning he charged Jess, The bear stumbled just before reaching the Texan, swung sideways and dropped dead.
Jess felt himself breath. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath. Hank and Carl ran to where the bear had fallen.
"Don't get to close to." Jess warned the men. "Takes a lot to kill a Grizzly and he might not be quite dead yet."
Carl stopped and backed off. He was startled when he heard the bear growl and attempt to stand. Jess aimed his rifle at the bear's forehead and pulled the trigger. The bear's body jumped then went utterly still.
"This better be the last injured bear. I don't think this heart of mine can take anymore." Jess stood breathing hard next to the two Easterners. Carl was white as a ghost. Hank put his arm about his friend.
"Come on Carl, let's find Jonesy and get us a drink." and the two men turned towards the house.
"Oh, no." Jess called.
"You two ain't done yet. We gotta get this monster hauled out of got a mornin' stage coming in tomorrow. I'll go harness Robin. You'll need to get a strong rope and once you haul this carcass over that hill yonder, you two can put these fires out. "
Jess slipped into the barn, making his way carefully through the milling horses, still nervous from the gunfire and smell of the grizzly. He slipped a lead onto Robin's halter and led him out of the barn towards the dead bear.
Carl returned with a lantern. It was slow going dragging the bear out of the yard and away from the ranch house. Once they'd dragged the bear out of sight of the house Jess motioned for Carl to halt. Jess untied the bear and led Robin back to the barn.
"Thanks," he murmered, as he leaned into the big work horse. He filled the work horse's bucket with extra oats.
Jess had the two men shovel fresh dirt over the bloody ground, then spread hay over the fresh dirt in the corral and let the loose stock out of the barn. The horses were nervous at first, pawing at the fresh hay and milling around. Finally, they began to graze.
Seeing the horses settle down, Jess headed into the house, his leg and arm were aching. He called to Carl and Hank to come on inside.
The two men entered the house and smiled at the whiskey bottle sitting on the table next to two sandwiches. Carl picked up the bottle and took a deep drink.
"To bear hunting," he grinned at his friend. Hank nodded in agreement and took a swig. Finishing the sandwiches the men turned in for the night.
Jess rose at daylight. He smelled bacon cooking in the kitchen and marveled how Jonesy always had breakfast on the stove no matter what time he woke. He dressed and limped outdoors to wash up for breakfast. Entering the kitchen, Jonesy greeted him with a big smile, a full plate of bacon and four over-easy eggs.
"Visitors still sleepin'?" Jess asked.
"Yep, but not for long. Stage will be here shortly and I'm makin' sure they`re on it." Jonesy grinned over at Jess as he sat down to eat.
"Sounds good." Jess answered talking around a mouth full of biscuits and eggs. "I'll get the horses harnessed soon as I finish eating." Jess added.
"Jess, ya think we should talk to those two city slickers 'bout keeping your secret safe? 'Bout you being Skinny Smith and all?" Jonesy questioned the Texan.
"Don't think anyone would believe 'em. How 'bout I shave, then they'll see I ain't no Skinny Smith. Might be an easier solution." Jess suggested. "I'm much too young and good lookin' to be that Smith character."
Jonesy laughed as he looked at Jess's face, "Yeah, I think you could manage a shave now. Even your eye ain't swollen anymore. Looks like that Indian potion did the trick. "
"My eye's better 'cept maybe in bright sun."
Jess stood and picked up the kettle heating on the stove and headed over to the bunk room.
"Here goes nothin', Jonesy." He called out as he poured the hot water into the basin. He picked up his razer and set to shaving. Jonesy stood in the doorway observing.
"Here let me, boy. Ya can't do that with only one good arm." Jonesy had Jess sit on the bed while he shaved him.
"Ouch." Jess winced as Jonesy pulled the skin taunt.
"Never seen a face with such hollow cheeks bones 'fore. Slim, well, he's got those nice plump cheeks and all you got is hollows, I swear." Finally the old man finished.
"At least I ain't lookin' like Skinny Smith no more, maybe they'll believe me. Thanks, Jonesy." Jess smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He ran his hand over his smooth cheeks. "Sure feels good to get rid of all those whiskers."
Jess left Jonesy to his house work as he headed out to ready the team for the early morning stage. Once he had the team fed and harnessed, he limped back to the porch and sat in his rocker.
The stage came rumbling into the yard, Jess greeted Charlie as he brought the stage to a stop in front of the porch.
"No passengers today. How's Jonesy feelin'?" the driver asked.
"He's doin' real good, Charlie. We've got two passengers for ya. Now, they keep insistin' I'm Skinny Smith, if they mention that to you, you tell 'em I'm Jess Harper. You got that?"
"Yeah, don't worry, Jess. I won't let on about your alias."
Between the two of them they got the new team hitched.
"You wanna get those two fellas, I'm ready to pull out." Charlie asked.
Jonesy walked out on the porch followed by two men.
"Jess, where's this stage heading?" Carl called.
"Casper." Charlie answered. "You pay me the fare."
"We'd rather go to Laramie." Hank told the driver.
"Get on the coach, I ain't askin' you two where ya wanna go, I'm tellin' ya and you're goin' to Casper." Jess held the door to the coach open. Just make sure you two never show your faces in these parts again, ya got it." Jess threatened.
"OK. You sure look different shaved." Carl said as he studied Jess' clean shaven face.
"Told ya, it was the whiskers that made you think I was Smith. Sure helped slow down those mountain men though. Just remember, name's Jess Harper. I'm younger and better lookin' that that Skinny Smith character. I don't want ya tellin' anyone you met Skinny Smith out here on the Sherman ranch. You understand! Iffin' I hear you been spreadin' rumors, I'll come lookin' for ya." He rested his hand restlessly on his Colt.
"OK, OK." The men nodded in agreement as they boarded the stage. Carl turned. "Thanks, Jonesy, Jess. Never would of made it home alive without your help. I left something on the table for you."
