Chapter 25

Jimmy picked up his sore body from the ground before daylight. He picked up his things then went to sit out on the prairie. He sat and watched the sunrise. He watched the colors spread across the sky. He sat and watched the wind blow through the trees and tall grass. He sat for a while just watching the country. He took a deep breath. It was time. He got on his horse and rode slowly on into Dodge City.

Teaspoon, Lou, and the others pushed their horses as hard as they could. Dodge City on the horizon.

Jimmy walked out the mail office. He held his bad hand near his side as he took in the town that he knew so well. He walked on down toward the building at the end. He stood outside the doors for a minute before walking in. Two of the girls knew him immediately and started staring. He walked on in and went up to the bar.

"Hickok. You shouldn't have come here. He'll kill you." Said the bartender.

"Let him know I'm here. Don't waste my time."

The bartender knew that look. He nodded.

"Follow me."

Jimmy followed him up the stairs into the back room. Lilah's friend Amber watched him go. She let her tears fall. Jimmy walked into the room with Gordon and his two guards. He looked surprised.

"Well, well. If it ain't the murderer himself. You know that I would have found you."

"Thought I'd save you the trouble."

Gordon nodded at him. The two men walked over and pushed him to the ground. He grimaced in pain as they tied his hands behind his back. They pulled him back to his feet.

"Take him into the room. I'll be along."

Jimmy willingly walked into the windowless room at the far end of the hall. He grunted as he was pushed on his knees. The door shut behind him putting him in the darkness that he was already feeling inside. All he had to do now was wait for it to over and set everyone that he cared about free.

Teaspoon and the others made it into town that afternoon. It took them no time to figure out where the place in question was. Business seemed to be flowing in the establishment. They split up once inside and started asking around. The bartender watched Cody as he came up to the bar.

"Howdy."

"What can I get ya?"

"Take a whiskey."

The man poured his drink but Cody didn't drink it. He sat and watched. He watched the man behind the bar go down the line and then back toward him.

"Sir?"

"Yeah? Need something else?"

"A man come in here earlier today maybe? Bout my height, long brown hair? Black hat. Sour look on his face."

The bartender looked around before walking off. Cody didn't say anything as the man went and brought a bottle back over to him. He leaned in.

"Hickok?"

"Yeah."

"You a friend?"

"Yeah."

"Came in hours ago. Asked for Gordon. He's upstairs."

"How can I get up there?"

"You can't. He's probably dead by now."

"I need to get there." Said Cody staring the man down when he felt an arm snake around him.

Cody looked over to see a pretty lady hanging on him. She leaned in next to his ear.

"Come upstairs with me. I'll show you."

Cody smiled and nodded. He tipped his hat to Teaspoon as he followed the girl up the steps.

"My name's Amber. You won't regret picking me." She smiled at him as they walked by a man watching the floor.

She led Cody up to the top when she got close beside him again.

"Lilah was fond of him. Her baby needs it's father. My room is two doors down from where he is. Should be two inside plus Gordon."

"I can't thank you enough."

"He's a good man even if he doesn't know it. Help him."

"Here take this for me taking up your time so he won't know." Cody said holding out money.

"Just get him out so Lilah's child will at least have her father." She eased back pulling Cody in her room.

Once inside he stood by the door listening. He heard men walking back and forth. Once it got quiet he cracked open the door. He heard men inside the room. He heard a loud voice. He pulled his gun as he crept over. He put his ear to the door.

"You are a sorry thing ain't you. Seems to have given up on life. I don't care about that. Just makes it easier for me. You see I don't just kill someone who crosses me. I make them suffer before they die. I haven't had this much fun in quite a while. Well since that whore got pregnant with your child."

Jimmy could hardly hear him over the loud buzzing in his ears as he laid on the floor on his back. His arms tied behind him. He just laid there waiting for death to take him. Gordon grabbed his shirt and jerked his bloody face up to his.

"It would make it more enjoyable if you would scream out. I love to hear the fear in someone's voice before I kill them and I will hear it in yours."

Jimmy couldn't focus his eyes so he didn't answer. He just laid limp in his grasp. Gordon pulled his knife again and held it above Jimmy. He tried to make Jimmy look at it but he was almost too far gone.

"I'm over this." Said Gordon as he plunged the knife in the center of Jimmy's chest.

Jimmy finally yelled out as Gordon pushed the knife in deeper. Gordon laughed out in satisfaction.

Cody listened outside the door. He stepped back to kick it open when he heard hurried steps coming up toward him. He dipped around the corner as a man knocked on the door. Cody heard yelling come from below. He watched as the door opened. Gordon and his men all ran downstairs. Cody peeked over the railing to see a full blown brawl had been set loose. He smiled when he saw Kid in the middle of it. Teaspoon rushed up the stairs to find Cody heading toward a door.

"In here." Cody said as he hurriedly opened the door.

They both stopped when they got inside. Blood was all over the floor and Jimmy was laying in the middle of it. He was still awake and wheezing. They ran over.

"How the hell are we gonna carry him out like this?" Asked Cody.

"I'll show you." They looked up to see Amber again.

Teaspoon nodded as Cody got Jimmy under his arms and he got his feet. He was surprisingly light as they carried him out the room and out through a back door. They carried him over to the livery where Lou was waiting.

"Oh my God." She faintly whispered when they laid him down.

"Jimmy, Jimmy, can you hear us?" Asked Teaspoon.

He didn't respond. Teaspoon turned to Cody.

"Get Kid out. Meet us one town over. I got a friend there. Ask for Mason when y'all get there."

"He a doctor?"

"Yeah. A retired one. He'll hide us."

Cody nodded and ran back out toward the whore house. Teaspoon looked at Lou who seemed stuck in place.

"Sit with him. I'll be back."

She nodded and sat down on the ground beside him. She was scared to touch him. She knew that she still hadn't uttered those three words to him. She had told everyone else but not him. She reached a shaky hand out to touch his shoulder when he gasped out. She forgot all about the past and the fear as she reached for him.

"Jimmy?"

He looked up but seemed to peer right through her.

"Don't die. Not now. I forgive you. You hear me. It wasn't all your fault. Half was my own. You hear me! Half was mine! I love you."

He looked straight up. She turned him on his side and pulled her knife. She cut his hands loose then rolled him back. She touched his face.

"Jimmy, I forgive you. It wasn't all on you. I'm sorry for not finding you sooner. I'm so sorry. I love you." She said as she put her forehead against his face.

Teaspoon ran back in and saw Lou bent over him. He touched her shoulder to get her attention. She looked up.

"Time to go. Don't touch that knife. Be careful." He said as he lifted and put Jimmy in the wagon.

He slapped the reins as the horses rushed off toward sun.