Jesse and Frank sat up by the fire in the early hours of the day. Jesse
looked worn and tired. Lines of age were beginning to show.
"This'll be over soon Jesse. I know it." Frank said patting his brother on the back. "I can feel it."
"Well look where your feelings got me now Frank. away from home. Away from my daughter. I bet you she's forgotten all about me." Jesse said her voice cracking.
"Jesse, Liberty would never forget you. She loves you. And I bet that if she had any idea where you were, she'd be right here with you." Frank assured.
"I can't be so sure Frank. I just can't be so sure."
"JESSE LOOK OUT!" Cole called from the trees. Jesse ducked in time for an arrow to whiz past his head.
"Well boys! It looks like we might be early." Frank said clicking his shotgun into the ready position.
Liberty and Colin has camped out for the night when a strange whooshing sound could be heard followed by the pops of gunfire. Liberty sat straight up.
"THAT'S THEM! That's them Colin! Lets go! If we're quiet we might be able to join in."
Colin rolled over and slowly sat up. Liberty was already walking her horse quietly to edge of the tree line that the gunfire could be heard from. She was looking out at a vast meadow and Indian arrows were being shot at the trees to the left of them.
Liberty peered hard into the trees and she gasped in delight.
"ITS REALLY THEM COLIN!" she whispered grabbing onto Colin's arm. Colin peered out and whistled.
"Looks like they're getting their asses whooped."
"Shut it! Franks hit! They're gonna get killed!" Liberty was getting riled up. Her eyes lit up, "they need a distraction!" she cried hopping up on her horse.
"Wait a minute. Relax for a second. Don't you think that your dad is gonna come out busting caps and flailing arms if he sees you?" Colin tried to think in perspective.
"You're right." She said simply drawing her coat tighter around her and pulling the brim of her hat down so low that she could see just enough to shoot.
"Get on your damn horse Daniels or do you plan on distracting them Indians with the tent in your pants?" Liberty laughed as Colin blushed and mounted. Drawing her guns, she hollered.
"YA! Get Lightening GO!" she held the reins in her mouth and fired at the direction the arrows were coming from. An injured cry here, a body falling there. Colin followed up the rear and was shooting one handed.
All Liberty could think about was her father. She hoped this was a good enough distraction to help them.
Frank cradled his gun arm that had been grazed by an arrow. Jesse was shielding him with his body as the weapons flew. He shot a close to six shots a minute.
"They're coming closer!" Cole called out. Jesse cursed.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold on!" Bob Younger, Cole's second brother, hollered from his attack position.
"Mama, if you can hear me. help us. divine intervention or not! We need some help!" Jesse muttered to his long deceased mother.
"What in the hell?" Frank said. "I think your prayers have been answered Jesse. Look!" Frank pointed with is good arm to the eastern corner of the meadow. Two riders, covered from head to foot came riding out of the brush. One had long dark hair and was riding in front, using a very familiar shooting technique that made Jesse narrow his eyes in suspicion. The second was pulling up the rear and picking up the pieces.
"I think it's doing enough to get us some ground boys!" Frank directed. Cole and Bob ran out and dragged a few men with them and began firing. Within minutes, the gunfight had diminished into a small pack of fleeing Indians and twenty or more outlaws whooping and cheering.
Jesse and Frank stood in the midst wondering where the two mysterious riders went when all of a sudden, a hush fell in the crowd of men. It was like the sea of men parted like a hot knife in butter. Jesse could see the brim of two hats floating towards him. His stomach felt fluttery as the two figures approached and his brows furrowed as they finally came to a stop in front of him.
It was a girl and young man. The girl looked familiar. She was almost his height, had long dark hair that was braided and deep blue eyes that burned into his skull. Jesse'd only known two girls with eyes like that and one of them was dead.
"LIBERTY ZERELDA JAMES!" He howled. The girl put her head down.
"Hi daddy." She mumbled. Frank blinked.
"Well god be damned. I thought I recognized that rein trick. Your dad used to do that! Oh my god Liberty. it's been ages!" He smiled. Jesse frowned at Frank.
"What in the hell fire and vinegar are you doing out here! My god you could've been killed!" he raged. Liberty looked up and stared her father in the eye.
"But I'm not dead am I dad? I expected you to be mad. yes, but I at least expected a 'Hey Libby. missed you. sorry haven't seen you in three years.' Dad! What happened to your promise! You promised me you'd let me know you were okay. Not one goddamn letter!"
"Liberty don't swear!"
"Aw come on Dad. I'm 15, I'm practically a woman." Liberty argued.
"Yeah, a woman that's goin to march herself home this instant." Jesse demanded. Liberty stood there, one eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. "This instant." He added more forcefully.
"Look Liberty. I didn't mean to sound so harsh before. I really didn't. It's just, when I think about you riding out there like a crazy ass idiot. I get scared. I don't want to lose the one thing that I got left." Jesse explained putting a hand on Liberty's shoulder. She shrugged it off.
"You think I want to lose the only thing that I got left? I hate it back in town. Goddamnit!"
"Liberty!"
"Alright, Alright. But I mean. I'm no law-abiding citizen I'll tell you. Anyone can tell you. I spend more nights in a jail cell then my actual bed. I can't live like that dad! I need to be out there. Out here, with you. That's why I want you to let me in the gang." Liberty stared her father down.
"You remind so much of your mother. you know. she blew up a train for me." Jesse smiled. His smile quickly turned into a frown.
"NO. I won't let you. Absolutely no way." Jesse waved his hands in the air. The gang stood in a circle around the two of them. Jesse was pacing back and forth.
"Why not dad! I shoot just as good as you!" Liberty argued.
"I seriously doubt that." Cole Younger piped up. Liberty spun around, popped a pistol and pulled back the hammer.
"You wanna test that Cole Younger?" she smiled coyly. Cole's face paled.
"Now come on. lets not shoot your favorite cousin." He pleaded. Liberty pulled the trigger and the bullet grazed the feather in the hatband stripping it of almost all its feather. Cole leaned on the guy next to him.
"Come on dad!" Liberty pleaded. Frank stepped up and put a hand on Jesses shoulder and pulled him aside.
"Jesse, she did give us the advantage. Without her 'crazy ass idiot' riding. I don't think we'd have made it. We owe her."
Jesse looked over Liberty's shoulder.
"Who are you?" he asked in an aggravated tone. Colin stepped forward and took off his hat.
"Colin Daniels sir."
"And what is a fine boy like you doing all the way out here?"
"I'm-I'm a friend of Liberty's. I wouldn't let her go riding off alone sir." Colin replied.
"Good boy. Now take her back into town and don't let her leave again you hear me Colin?" Jesse asked.
"Now Jesse."
"DAD!"
"Come on James." the men all groaned.
"No, she's my kid and I say she cannot come. I will not have another Jimmy Younger on my hands." He said wiping his hands on his shirt. Liberty glared at him.
She turned around and hopped up on her horse faster than you can say boo. Jesse and the gang all followed suit. But when they tried to leave. Liberty parked herself smack dab in the middle.
"If you won't let me in the gang. fine. I'll follow you. The only way to stop me from following you is to shoot me. And I know you won't shoot me." She said defiantly. Jesse hung his head.
"My god! FINE! But should I need to remind you that we don't need your idiotic distractions anymore. Unless I give the word okay?"
"There was a time Jesse when you would be the one doing the distracting." Frank said softly. Jesse smiled. Liberty's eyes widened and she whooped a cry of delight. Jesse hopped off his horse and Liberty did the same.
"Dad. I missed you." She said quietly. Jesse walked over to his daughter and wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you too darling." He said into her shoulder. "My god have you grown up." He added. Liberty laughed.
After everyone was mounted, they all started at a walk towards the east.
Colin sat there unsure of what to do when Jesse turned around and hollered.
"Are ya coming? I need someone to watch my crazy daughter." He ruffled Liberty's hair by rubbing on her hat.
"DAD!" she complained.
Colin smiled and pushed into a jog to catch up.
"This'll be over soon Jesse. I know it." Frank said patting his brother on the back. "I can feel it."
"Well look where your feelings got me now Frank. away from home. Away from my daughter. I bet you she's forgotten all about me." Jesse said her voice cracking.
"Jesse, Liberty would never forget you. She loves you. And I bet that if she had any idea where you were, she'd be right here with you." Frank assured.
"I can't be so sure Frank. I just can't be so sure."
"JESSE LOOK OUT!" Cole called from the trees. Jesse ducked in time for an arrow to whiz past his head.
"Well boys! It looks like we might be early." Frank said clicking his shotgun into the ready position.
Liberty and Colin has camped out for the night when a strange whooshing sound could be heard followed by the pops of gunfire. Liberty sat straight up.
"THAT'S THEM! That's them Colin! Lets go! If we're quiet we might be able to join in."
Colin rolled over and slowly sat up. Liberty was already walking her horse quietly to edge of the tree line that the gunfire could be heard from. She was looking out at a vast meadow and Indian arrows were being shot at the trees to the left of them.
Liberty peered hard into the trees and she gasped in delight.
"ITS REALLY THEM COLIN!" she whispered grabbing onto Colin's arm. Colin peered out and whistled.
"Looks like they're getting their asses whooped."
"Shut it! Franks hit! They're gonna get killed!" Liberty was getting riled up. Her eyes lit up, "they need a distraction!" she cried hopping up on her horse.
"Wait a minute. Relax for a second. Don't you think that your dad is gonna come out busting caps and flailing arms if he sees you?" Colin tried to think in perspective.
"You're right." She said simply drawing her coat tighter around her and pulling the brim of her hat down so low that she could see just enough to shoot.
"Get on your damn horse Daniels or do you plan on distracting them Indians with the tent in your pants?" Liberty laughed as Colin blushed and mounted. Drawing her guns, she hollered.
"YA! Get Lightening GO!" she held the reins in her mouth and fired at the direction the arrows were coming from. An injured cry here, a body falling there. Colin followed up the rear and was shooting one handed.
All Liberty could think about was her father. She hoped this was a good enough distraction to help them.
Frank cradled his gun arm that had been grazed by an arrow. Jesse was shielding him with his body as the weapons flew. He shot a close to six shots a minute.
"They're coming closer!" Cole called out. Jesse cursed.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold on!" Bob Younger, Cole's second brother, hollered from his attack position.
"Mama, if you can hear me. help us. divine intervention or not! We need some help!" Jesse muttered to his long deceased mother.
"What in the hell?" Frank said. "I think your prayers have been answered Jesse. Look!" Frank pointed with is good arm to the eastern corner of the meadow. Two riders, covered from head to foot came riding out of the brush. One had long dark hair and was riding in front, using a very familiar shooting technique that made Jesse narrow his eyes in suspicion. The second was pulling up the rear and picking up the pieces.
"I think it's doing enough to get us some ground boys!" Frank directed. Cole and Bob ran out and dragged a few men with them and began firing. Within minutes, the gunfight had diminished into a small pack of fleeing Indians and twenty or more outlaws whooping and cheering.
Jesse and Frank stood in the midst wondering where the two mysterious riders went when all of a sudden, a hush fell in the crowd of men. It was like the sea of men parted like a hot knife in butter. Jesse could see the brim of two hats floating towards him. His stomach felt fluttery as the two figures approached and his brows furrowed as they finally came to a stop in front of him.
It was a girl and young man. The girl looked familiar. She was almost his height, had long dark hair that was braided and deep blue eyes that burned into his skull. Jesse'd only known two girls with eyes like that and one of them was dead.
"LIBERTY ZERELDA JAMES!" He howled. The girl put her head down.
"Hi daddy." She mumbled. Frank blinked.
"Well god be damned. I thought I recognized that rein trick. Your dad used to do that! Oh my god Liberty. it's been ages!" He smiled. Jesse frowned at Frank.
"What in the hell fire and vinegar are you doing out here! My god you could've been killed!" he raged. Liberty looked up and stared her father in the eye.
"But I'm not dead am I dad? I expected you to be mad. yes, but I at least expected a 'Hey Libby. missed you. sorry haven't seen you in three years.' Dad! What happened to your promise! You promised me you'd let me know you were okay. Not one goddamn letter!"
"Liberty don't swear!"
"Aw come on Dad. I'm 15, I'm practically a woman." Liberty argued.
"Yeah, a woman that's goin to march herself home this instant." Jesse demanded. Liberty stood there, one eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. "This instant." He added more forcefully.
"Look Liberty. I didn't mean to sound so harsh before. I really didn't. It's just, when I think about you riding out there like a crazy ass idiot. I get scared. I don't want to lose the one thing that I got left." Jesse explained putting a hand on Liberty's shoulder. She shrugged it off.
"You think I want to lose the only thing that I got left? I hate it back in town. Goddamnit!"
"Liberty!"
"Alright, Alright. But I mean. I'm no law-abiding citizen I'll tell you. Anyone can tell you. I spend more nights in a jail cell then my actual bed. I can't live like that dad! I need to be out there. Out here, with you. That's why I want you to let me in the gang." Liberty stared her father down.
"You remind so much of your mother. you know. she blew up a train for me." Jesse smiled. His smile quickly turned into a frown.
"NO. I won't let you. Absolutely no way." Jesse waved his hands in the air. The gang stood in a circle around the two of them. Jesse was pacing back and forth.
"Why not dad! I shoot just as good as you!" Liberty argued.
"I seriously doubt that." Cole Younger piped up. Liberty spun around, popped a pistol and pulled back the hammer.
"You wanna test that Cole Younger?" she smiled coyly. Cole's face paled.
"Now come on. lets not shoot your favorite cousin." He pleaded. Liberty pulled the trigger and the bullet grazed the feather in the hatband stripping it of almost all its feather. Cole leaned on the guy next to him.
"Come on dad!" Liberty pleaded. Frank stepped up and put a hand on Jesses shoulder and pulled him aside.
"Jesse, she did give us the advantage. Without her 'crazy ass idiot' riding. I don't think we'd have made it. We owe her."
Jesse looked over Liberty's shoulder.
"Who are you?" he asked in an aggravated tone. Colin stepped forward and took off his hat.
"Colin Daniels sir."
"And what is a fine boy like you doing all the way out here?"
"I'm-I'm a friend of Liberty's. I wouldn't let her go riding off alone sir." Colin replied.
"Good boy. Now take her back into town and don't let her leave again you hear me Colin?" Jesse asked.
"Now Jesse."
"DAD!"
"Come on James." the men all groaned.
"No, she's my kid and I say she cannot come. I will not have another Jimmy Younger on my hands." He said wiping his hands on his shirt. Liberty glared at him.
She turned around and hopped up on her horse faster than you can say boo. Jesse and the gang all followed suit. But when they tried to leave. Liberty parked herself smack dab in the middle.
"If you won't let me in the gang. fine. I'll follow you. The only way to stop me from following you is to shoot me. And I know you won't shoot me." She said defiantly. Jesse hung his head.
"My god! FINE! But should I need to remind you that we don't need your idiotic distractions anymore. Unless I give the word okay?"
"There was a time Jesse when you would be the one doing the distracting." Frank said softly. Jesse smiled. Liberty's eyes widened and she whooped a cry of delight. Jesse hopped off his horse and Liberty did the same.
"Dad. I missed you." She said quietly. Jesse walked over to his daughter and wrapped his arms around her.
"I missed you too darling." He said into her shoulder. "My god have you grown up." He added. Liberty laughed.
After everyone was mounted, they all started at a walk towards the east.
Colin sat there unsure of what to do when Jesse turned around and hollered.
"Are ya coming? I need someone to watch my crazy daughter." He ruffled Liberty's hair by rubbing on her hat.
"DAD!" she complained.
Colin smiled and pushed into a jog to catch up.