Chapter 31

Jimmy waited until the others were asleep. He pulled his boots on and eased out the door in the moonlight. He saddled his horse which seemed like it took forever. He took a minute before leading him out. He was surprised to see Lou blocking the way out the barn.

"Figured this. You are so stupid and stubborn."

Jimmy actually smiled half heartedly.

"I have to go."

"Let them go with you, please. I want you to come back. I need you to come back."

Jimmy walked weakly over to stand in front of Lou. He looked down in her face.

"Jimmy, please."

"I love you, Louise. If I never get to tell you again, just know it now. I'm sorry."

Lou felt her gut twist in knots as he bent forward and kissed her cheek. She flinched. He stepped forward as she stepped back against the wall. He felt her shiver against him. He put his face close to hers.

"I still scare you. Don't I, Lou? I can tell you're scared of me. How can you say you love me when you're scared of me? Answer that."

"I'm not."

"Then what is it?"

"Excitement."

Jimmy actually laughed and shook his head. Lou leaned forward and kissed him. He pushed away from her and looked in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you. I'm sorry for the past two years. I'm sorry for me and I'm sorry for this. I got to go."

"I ain't scared of you, Jimmy and I far from hate you. Please, don't do this."

"This doesn't prove a thing. The girls will be home soon. Love Maddie for me."

He pulled himself up clumsily in the saddle. He looked at Lou one last time. He couldn't let her in but he felt his heart soften. He rode out the yard leaving Lou standing there.

"What's going on out here?" Asked Teaspoon.

"He's gone."

"What?!"

"He's gone to offer himself for the girls. He isn't coming back."

"Like hell he ain't." Teaspoon said as he ran over to the bunkhouse.

Rachel walked out to join Lou in the yard. Rachel pulled Lou into a hug as the others rode away behind Jimmy.

"I will love her for him, Rachel. I already do as she is a part of him."

"Come on. Let's go back inside."

Jimmy rode straight on to where he knew Gordon would be waiting. He knew what he had to do and what was gonna happen. He just had to make sure that Gordon held up his end of the bargain and let the girls go.

Gordon looked up from his chair as one of his men walked in. He leaned back from his desk.

"He's here."

"Well. Not a surprise. Let's get them ready."

The man turned and left. Gordon sat back and crossed his arms across his chest. He smiled.

Jimmy rode up the long drive to Gordon's two story house. Lilah had told Jimmy of this horrible place many moons ago when he had started coming to see her. He saw girls come and go. She told him of this place. Gordon's home away from home where he kept some girls until he thought they were ready. She had told him about the home and the land around it set inside four walls of a canyon with only one way in and out. The girls never had any hope of escape. It wasn't too hard for him to find it. He looked up at the sign overhead reading Hicks Pass as he rode down the long drive into the canyon walls. He pulled to a stop right in front of the large porch and waited. He knew he was here.

"Hickok. I see you found the place."

Jimmy didn't say anything as he stared him down. Two men came to stand beside Gordon.

"Take his horse for him, Hank. Carl, show him the way."

Hank walked down and got his horse. He walked away. Carl snarled at Jimmy. He looked him over to make sure he wasn't armed before pushing him behind the house to a small clearing. Jimmy slowly walked around back and stood as tall as he could.

"I was surprised to hear that you survived. I truly was. It was rather remarkable but you won't be so lucky this time. Look out there. Look at those markers. You see them? Those are the markers of every single person that tried to cross me. I like to keep them here so they can never be free."

"Where's the girls?"

"I'll get them out soon enough."

"No, you get them now."

"If that makes you feel better. Carl, go."

Jimmy turned back toward the house. He watched as Carl emerged back out with two more men following him each holding one of the girls. Maddie started crying and reaching for him. He choked back his tears. Carl came back over. Hank grabbed Jimmy and spun him back around to face Gordon.

"Looks like that little one wants her daddy. Guess she won't be getting him."

Jimmy could hear Maddie behind him. Rosalyn was crying as well. He closed his eyes as he felt his heart feel something that he hadn't felt in a long time. Rosalyn. Lou's Rosalyn. His Rosalyn. A child that he didn't know but she contained a part of him. Maddie. The little one that almost had him rethinking his life.

"Looks like we struck a nerve."

"Please, just let them go."

"I will. Hank will take them and put them back out at that little shit farm that we took them from. I just need them around to make sure you stay put."

The two men picked the screaming kids up and carried them back inside the house.

"I won't try anything. Take them away from here."

"No. I don't think so. Not just yet anyway. Looking a little thin and pale, Hickok. You should really enjoy this." Gordon said as he stared in Jimmy's face.

Hank and Carl came. They grabbed Jimmy's arms even though he didn't fight. Gordon hit him the stomach. Jimmy fell forward and the men pushed him down to his knees. Gordon pulled his gun and pointed it at Jimmy's head.

Teaspoon, Kid, and Cody slipped through the entrance to the property. Jimmy had been easy enough to track. They walked along the canyon wall. No guards were on the porch. They crept around to the side of the house. Teaspoon put his fingers to his lips, hushing them. He pointed to the inside then his ear. Kid and Cody could hear children crying. Cody eased up to look inside. He held up two fingers then leaned in close.

"One woman."

Everyone nodded. They crept farther around to the back yard where they could hear voices. Teaspoon held up his hand as they came to the corner. Two men had Jimmy on his knees while the one named Gordon had a gun and stood over him.

"We got to make a move." Whispered Kid.

"If we do, he might pull that trigger. We got those girls in there also." Said Teaspoon.

Cody looked around.

"We split up then."

The group jerked around as Jimmy grunted and fell over farther. Gordon lifted the gun to hit him again.

"There's no more time." Said Kid standing.

"Howdy, fellas! I was hoping to get some directions...I'm sorry, I see I've interrupted. Sorry, I'll just go." Kid said turning around.

"Stop! Do I know you? How the hell did you find this place?"

"No, sir. I'm sorry. I got lost looking for work."

"Well work ain't here. Now look what you've caused yourself." Gordon said to Hank who let go of Jimmy.

Hank started walking over toward Kid who held up his hands. Hank drew his gun as Cody let out a shot. Carl fell beside Jimmy. Kid drew his gun and pointed it at Hank.

"Drop it."

Hank just stood smiling. Gordon looked at Carl then at Jimmy on his hands and knees. He kicked him. He smiled as Jimmy started coughing. Another man ran out the house after hearing the first shot. He ran across the yard to help Gordon. Teaspoon drew his gun and shot the man. Kid shook his head at Hank who kept walking closer. Kid pulled the trigger as Hank jumped. He fell to the ground. The other man left in the house pulled the two crying children out. He held a knife to Rosalyn's throat. Teaspoon and Kid froze. Cody had went around through the front door. The man heard him and spun around.

"Hold it! All of ya or I slit this one first!"

Gordon laughed out loud as he pulled Jimmy and turned him to face the house. He held Jimmy there and put his gun to the back of his head. He leaned in close to his ear.

"Stand up."

Jimmy blinked back the dizziness and blood from his eyes. He held his breath as he slowly stood. Gordon shoved his pistol into his side making Jimmy frown.

"Look at what your friends have done. Now you get to watch your little girl die."

Jimmy saw the man grab Rosalyn's hair as the child screamed. He jerked her head back.

"No!" Jimmy yelled as Teaspoon started forward.

Kid and Cody had their eyes on the kids. They turned back to Jimmy as a yell sounded out. They watched wide eyed as Jimmy started falling down on his chest. Gordon pointed his gun at Teaspoon and the others.

"Jimmy!" Yelled Cody.

"You can take the girls and go but he stays here. He can't ever leave. My rule. See, he has a hole already waiting on him." Laughed Gordon.

Gordon stepped across a coughing Jimmy and stood holding his gun on them. Teaspoon looked back to the girls. The guard still held his knife to Rosalyn. Cody noticed Jimmy begin to move out the corner of his eye. He didn't flinch or turn away. Jimmy stood swaying on his feet. He rushed Gordon knocking him forward.

"Kill them!" Yelled Gordon trying to turn to face Jimmy.

The man started pulling the girls back into house. Kid started forward as well as Teaspoon when a woman flew out the door. She jumped on the man's back and started stabbing him in the throat with a knife. Teaspoon snatched up Maddie as Kid grabbed Rosalyn. Cody ran over to Jimmy and Gordon. Gordon was on top and had starting hitting Jimmy with his pistol. Cody pulled him off. Gordon reached and aimed his gun. Cody had his ready first. He shot Gordon and he fell back on the ground.

Cody ran to Jimmy and flipped him over. He felt his chest and side as he looked him over for any wounds. Jimmy screamed in pain. He used his glove to wipe the blood from his face.

"Jimmy, what's going on? Stay with us."

"I don't know. I'm tired, Cody." He wheezed out.

"I know you're tired. You still haven't got all your strength back. You'll be right as rain in a few more weeks."

"No. No...I'm tired of living."

"Teaspoon! Teaspoon!"

"Stop. Stop."

"I ain't gonna stop and you ain't either. You understand. Jimmy, you ain't lived yet."

"Enough." Jimmy panted as he started to close his eyes.

"No, Jimmy, look at me. You ain't lived yet. Lou needs you. She loves you and you love her no matter what happened long ago. You got to marry her and watch them girls grow up."

"I can't breathe. I can't. Tell Lou I'm sorry. Sorry."

"Jimmy, you can tell her when we go home. Look at me, ok."

"Cody." Jimmy whispered closing his eyes.

"What we got?" Asked Teaspoon falling to his knees beside Jimmy.

"I ain't sure. He seems to be fading."

"Damn. Let's get him to town."