Chapter 6
Shasta had picked Trick up in her buggy predawn and they had set out to Mighty Joe's. The first half of the trip was spent in tired silence, but then once the sun was well overhead, the two started talking.
"How'd you know Jack?" Shasta asked him, glancing in his direction.
"Well, we were both newsies back in New York and I was sorta his mentor. I helped him and some othah boys out when dey were younger. And den I came out heah 5 years ago and den I ran inta Jack—his real name is Francis. Didn't recocknize him at first, but I soon did once he told me his real name."
"Francis is his real name?! Ha!" Shasta giggled. "That's a funny name if ya ask me. Well ain't that a coincidence, that you two met again. What a sweet story." You could feel the sarcasm riding her tongue like a cowboy riding his bull.
"Well you could look at it that way I guess…"
Shasta laughed. "I'm just kiddin'. You miss New York?"
"At first I didn't, I loved it out heah, but then Jackie boy wandered back inta me life and reminded me of where I come from and I miss it yea. I had some good times back dere, all my buds were dere and heah there ain't nobody. Back in New York me and me buds used ta spend everyday out on da streets sellin the papes—that's what newsies do. And we'd always go down ta Meddah's in the evenin' for some quality entertainment. " He laughed. "I was dere leadah, for a while anyway. I guess ya can say Francis-I mean Jack-looked up ta me when he was little. I was da true Cowboy, I guess Jack adopted that name when he was da leader. Guess he did turn out ta be me but I don't like it. Shoulda stayed in New York. More promise den out heah."
Shasta sighed and frowned at her memories. She never really had any friends. She had some, but those were back on her fathers farm, and she hadn't been back there in over 5 years.
"Whats wrong?" Trick sensed her unhappiness based on the frown on her lips and the frown on her forehead. She snapped out of it at the sound of his voice.
"Oh nothing, just thinking about old friends since ya brought it up." Silence filled the carriage once again as they let the land sail by them.
Later on in the ride Shasta decided to talk, she hated not talking, since her chatterbox of a mouth was one of her trademarks. "When I was a girl and still livin on me pa's farm I used to have all these friends who lived with the families who shared the land. We were all little cowgirls and spent everyday outside," She pointed to the freckles dotting her cheeks and nose, "in case you couldn't tell."
"What happened ta those friends?" Trick asked.
"Beats the hell out of me. I left 5 years ago and moved to my brothers farm and worked there. Met some nice folks down there then moved to El Paso where I opened that bar. No real friends here though. I don't like it. I miss them, especially when you started talking about them earlier."
"Sorry bout dat."
"No worries, no worries. Maybe I should go back to my pa's farm one of these days." Silence entered the carriage once again. The sun was low in the sky and Shasta pulled the horses to a stop. "Mighty Joe's farm is right over that rise and I'm gonna leave this buggy here and you wait for us alright?"
Trick nodded, he knew he couldn't go back to the ranch, it would only get both of them in trouble even more.
*****
Mighty Joe didn't know what to do with his passed out escapee. He lay on the bed in the other room and although Brock, his main man, wanted to take him into town to have him checked out by a doctor, Joe was not about to let this one get free again. Brock had promised that the boy was totally unconscious and wouldn't wake up anytime soon due to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
"It doesn't matter. That boy is not leaving this house. And that's final." Brock looked after his boss as he stomped out of the room. "Make sure you watch him 24-7." His booming voice echoed back through the hallways. Brock didn't know what to do. This kid needed medical attention and Joe wasn't going to allow it. He had to find a way to get past Joe. He went into the kids room and sat watching his shallow breathing. A few moments later Joe's pounding footsteps could be heard coming back to his position.
"BROCK." His voice filled the air. "Girl to see you." His pounding stomps retreated, replaced by the clicking of spurs. A cloaked figure entered through the doorway, her head hidden by her hood. She removed the hood when Joe was out of the room and old emotions rose fire in his belly. It was Shasta, the girl from his youth, the girl he had always wanted but never could get. And here she was, standing in Mighty Joe's living room.
"Hey Shasta." He managed to get out, "What's goin' on?"
"Hey Brock. I need to talk to you…" Hope rose in Brock's mind. "I need to get someone outta here. His name's Jack, he's a Yank."
"I dunno the names of any of the hands here. I have no contact with him…" His hopes went out the door, she was only here cause she needed his help. "Look, I gotta watch over this kid here and I can't really do much for ya…"
When he pointed to the room with the kid she immediately recognized him as Jack. "That's him…I have to get him outta here! Whats wrong with him?"
"Dehydration and heat exhaustion, he passed out working yesterday. Tried to escape the other night, but we stopped him. Why ya gotta get him outta here?"
"I just…do…are ya gonna help me or not?" Shasta looked into his eyes, and Brock couldn't say no.
"Alright, I have to get him to a doc anyway, but Mighty Joe there won't let me. If you can think of a way to get him outta here, then hes free to go."
"Deal?"
"Of course." The two conjured up a plan on how to get him out, and at about midnight the two managed to walk past Mighty Joes office with a sack of feed carrying Jack inside.
The walk was long, and Brock was worried that he'd be in deep shit if Joe realized he was gone.
"If you want to go back I can handle this one by myself, he doesn't weigh very much. What the hell you been feedin him? Air?"
"That's the punishment for runnin' away, he can't eat nothin' until Joe's sure he ain't gonna run away again. Man I don't want to go back. I hate it there, he's a damn slave driver."
"Then leave, you're not there now are ya? Just come back with me to El Paso and you can go on from there." It was an intriguing idea, and one extra day with Shasta was fine with him. They continued to walk on in silence, the cool wind stirred up the dirt on the road and sifted it over there clothing.
"Shasta," He began, but stopped. Shasta just looked quizzically at him, wondering what was on his mind. "Shasta, I've really missed ya, why did ya leave me?" Shasta groaned, she didn't want to have to explain to him her reasons.
"I just did, I had ta get away. I dunno why I did." Awkward silence followed, Brock kicked around the sand and hoped they'd reach the carriage soon. "Alright, there it is." She waved to a guy in the buggy and Brock realized it was the hand that had escaped.
"Hey! You were…"
"Oh hush up Brock" Shasta reprimanded him. "You want out? Then shut up and get in." She knew she was being harsh to him, after all she had broken his heart but that was 4 years ago, he should be over it by now.
"Uh, guys, where's Jack?"
"In the bag. He's sick so we have ta make a stop in at the doctors. Hey Brock, does Mighty Joe write down the names of all his slaves?"
"Nah, not that I know of. Certainly didn't know this bloke's name." Shasta was getting Jack out of the bag which was a process in itself since Jack was dead to the world it seemed.
"Sorry bud, you get to sit in the back." She heaved him into the backseat and Brock pulled himself up next to him, shoving him into a sitting position.
About half way to El Paso, Jack came to, groaning at first and then he was wide awake, stunned and wondering where the hell he was.
"Welcome back to earth Jackie boy!" Trick turned around to greet his groggy friend. "Took ya awhile ta join us."
"Where..what…how…why.." Jack was totally and utterly confused and it showed in his parched face. "Trick?" Jack mumbled out.
"Yeah buddy boy, its me Trick. And that be Shasta and dat is Brock. He 'elped ya get outta dere." Jack just nodded at Brock, and then smiled.
"Ya remembered what I said." Trick guessed this was aimed at him, so he shook his head.
"You'se always was talking about going to El Paso and seeing Shasta bout dat job."
"And you can't work until you're better, you're one sick guy, damn bastards for not feedin' ya." Shasta turned and gave Brock an evil look.
"What? It's not my choice. Everythin's up to Mighty Joe." Jack shivered at the mention of the name.
The group continued their journey back to El Paso through the night. By mid afternoon Jack recognized the dusty little town he once paraded into where he had found Shasta and had left to go to hell and then back. What had happened to his dream? Was it all just an illusion? He sighed, and felt defeated, worthless.