Chapter 9
Authors note*
sorry it took so long guys and gals. i have been in a slump this week and not feeling like writing anything. my family cheered me up though so here is the next chapter. Enjoy!
BETAS Nakoosay and Saddletramp
Jess passed out again and I sat there struggling to make sense of what he had mumbled. Why had Jess been inside the bank? Depositing who's money? And what did Mort have to do with all of this? My mind was reeling from all these questions, so I didn't hear the door close and someone come in until he cleared his throat and I looked up lost in thought.
"I just came by to see how Jess was doing."
Mort was concerned and it showed as he stood there, his hat in his hand, glancing back and forth between Jess's unconscious figure and me sitting on the side of Jess's bed staring with unseeing eyes at him.
"You okay there Slim?"
I shook my head for the hundredth time that day and looked back at Mort with clear and seeing eyes. My voice was level and calm as I asked
"Mort what was Jess doing in that Bank?"
That look of helplessness and guilt washed over Mort's face again but only for a second before he pushed it back down and looked me straight in the eye. I wasn't mad at Mort. Whatever had happened was obviously out of Mort's control. Even though I was mad that Jess had gotten hurt, I wasn't going to make the same mistake that I had made with the Doc; and aim my anger at somebody who didn't rightly deserve it.
Besides in the back of my mind was the question of what's my real name and it just sat there festering. I couldn't let my emotions control me like that again. So, I waited and made an inviting motion with my arm toward Mort to sit in the chair which was set by Jess's bed. Mort's face relaxed slightly, and he sat down resting his hat on the dusty knee of his pants.
"There was some money I needed to put in the bank, and I was getting it ready to go when out of the blue Jess comes strolling into the office asking what I was doing. Well it couldn't have been more perfect. I told Jess and he offered to go to the bank for me. I hadn't finished some paperwork that needed to be completed by the days end and it would save me time, so I agreed. He left and I sat back down at my desk and started back on my paperwork.
"I wasn't watching the clock, but it seemed about 10 minutes had passed when I heard the shot. I jumped out of my chair, and threw the office door wide open Folks who were standing around were pointing at the bank; and I tell you Slim, my heart just about jumped into my throat. I ran to the bank and when I saw Jess lying there…"
Mort stopped and ran a weathered hand through his hair-something he didn't do unless he was mighty worried. He glanced back at me and seeing the stony silent expression I must have wearing on my face, He cleared his throat and started back up again.