The gang rode on until dusk. They were approaching and open field as the
sun was setting.
"I propose we make camp Jesse," Frank said pulling his horse to a stop. Jesse scanned the horizon and nodded.
"We're making camp." he called out. The gang whooped and hollered in agreeance. They took off a lightening speed to make camp.
When the camp was set and most of the boys had bunkered down for a good nights rest, Liberty squatted close to the small fire and picked a long blade of sweet grass. Colin lay asleep a few feet to her left and her cousins Cole and Bob and her uncle Frank were to her right making small talk before huddling down to sleep.
She watched the golden fire lick at the kindling and dry grass it was born from. It was like a miraculous dance, the tiny blue flame flickering occasionally. It was beautiful. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder and she hung her head.
"Hey dad." she mumbled rolling back on her heels so she was in a sitting position. She looked over to her father who had sat down beside her.
"Picking sweet grass?" Jesse asked nervously. It was so different for him. Looking at this grown up version of his little girl was just too weird.
Liberty nodded. Putting one long blade in her mouth, she held her hand out.
"Want some?"
"I wouldn't mind a little chewing grass." He smiled taking a blade.
Liberty sighed. This was so awkward. It was like she didn't even know who this man was. Definitely not her father, the father she knew.
"What happened to you?" she asked breaking the silence. "I thought this was supposed to be a short, meaning not long term, thing. A fight or two with the Indians and that was it. I missed you so much."
Jesse sighed. He knew this was coming. father daughter talk. He knew he'd have to face it eventually.
"It was. I wanted it to be. God Libby, I wanted to come home after the first fight. But it's addicting. I never even realized how much I missed this until I was out there. Shooting again." Jesse explained. Liberty sighed and adjusted her hat.
"I know it's addicting. I've wanted to be out there for so long! Just riding into the sunset, not knowing where to go. it's all I've ever wanted. But no, you made me promise not to leave. And me, being the doting kid I was. kept my word. Until now. I don't know what came over me. I just thought that maybe. I might get my chance at freedom. You know Mr. Miller? He was so restricting. He didn't want anyone to know that I was the daughter of an ex-outlaw turned back. With him it was like you never existed. All I got out of the house before it went up for auction were these shoulder holsters, the pistols and some old clothes. He wanted everything of yours gone. He told me 'it never does to dwell on dreams' It sounded like something that Frank would say. He said, "Liberty, your father will never come back. The prairie lives in him. He lives in the prairie'." Liberty sniffed rubbing her eye.
Jesse gazed at his daughter and felt his heart swell with pain. She was right. He'd just up and left and he didn't come back. He probably wouldn't have come back.
"I didn't want to believe it at first. You know, every little girl believes her dad is perfect. But when the weeks turned into months and the months into a year. I began to believe that maybe my dad wasn't perfect. Maybe he wasn't coming back. And I was angry. I guess you could say that was the reason I was just a troublemaker. I wanted to do anything, everything and anything, to make you come back. I mean, I probably shouldn't be telling you this. you'll probably just yell and holler and get all pissed, but I even robbed the local bank. It was about a year after you left."
Jesses mouth hung open. He couldn't say anything. What was there to say? She looked at him and he could see the stars reflected in her welling tears. His mind was reeling. She was so hurt by him leaving that she was destroying her life. Before he could even try to speak, Liberty cut him off.
"I remembered you telling me all about your adventures with Uncle Frank, Bob and Cole and I thought that if I made a little news, you'd come back and take me with you. That of course, only got me a serious penalty. I almost got hanged. But Mr. Miller managed to talk the sheriff into me living in the prison for 3 months. If I learned anything in there, which I think was Millers plan, it was that I couldn't bring you back. The night I got out, I made a promise to myself that I would find you. If you wouldn't come to me, I would come to you. And here I am. A pretty stupid idea now that I'm turning it over in my head."
"Libby, I know you were hurt. I hurt you. I am so sorry. It was my fault. This whole thing is my fault. Stupid Cole. If that little shit hadn't messed around and gotten himself in trouble, we'd be home right now. Home and-"
"Miserable? You and I both know dad that when ma died. a part of us died too. You'd have never been happy. We'd have ended up shooting each other eventually." She interjected. Jesse sighed.
"I was gonna say safe, but spoken like a true James. You're right Liberty. I just wish you hadn't gotten caught up in all this. I would die if you got hurt."
"But I won't. Colin and I have been practicing shots since you left. We even played chicken. You know, standing ten paces apart and drawing your gun to shoot a target to the left of your opponent's head? We taught ourselves the outlaw ways. We know that it's dangerous. Please trust me on this. Believe that I can handle myself. God I lived in prison for three months. Riding with the James Younger Gang can't be that bad." She said with a sparkle in her eye. Jesse laughed.
"You know, you remind me of myself when I was young and stupid. Dangerous times indeed Libby."
"But you lived through it. Trust me, I can live through it."
"Ah, but I had help from my friends. sometimes willingly accepted others not so willingly. Can you handle taking some firm directions from your. your. whats that word Frank?" Jesse asked shaking Franks arm. Frank moaned.
"Estranged?"
"Your estranged father?" he smiled wrapping him arm around his daughter.
"I'll try dad. I'll try."
A/N: Sorry if this is too short and a little confusing. I'm not good at talking *laughs*
"I propose we make camp Jesse," Frank said pulling his horse to a stop. Jesse scanned the horizon and nodded.
"We're making camp." he called out. The gang whooped and hollered in agreeance. They took off a lightening speed to make camp.
When the camp was set and most of the boys had bunkered down for a good nights rest, Liberty squatted close to the small fire and picked a long blade of sweet grass. Colin lay asleep a few feet to her left and her cousins Cole and Bob and her uncle Frank were to her right making small talk before huddling down to sleep.
She watched the golden fire lick at the kindling and dry grass it was born from. It was like a miraculous dance, the tiny blue flame flickering occasionally. It was beautiful. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder and she hung her head.
"Hey dad." she mumbled rolling back on her heels so she was in a sitting position. She looked over to her father who had sat down beside her.
"Picking sweet grass?" Jesse asked nervously. It was so different for him. Looking at this grown up version of his little girl was just too weird.
Liberty nodded. Putting one long blade in her mouth, she held her hand out.
"Want some?"
"I wouldn't mind a little chewing grass." He smiled taking a blade.
Liberty sighed. This was so awkward. It was like she didn't even know who this man was. Definitely not her father, the father she knew.
"What happened to you?" she asked breaking the silence. "I thought this was supposed to be a short, meaning not long term, thing. A fight or two with the Indians and that was it. I missed you so much."
Jesse sighed. He knew this was coming. father daughter talk. He knew he'd have to face it eventually.
"It was. I wanted it to be. God Libby, I wanted to come home after the first fight. But it's addicting. I never even realized how much I missed this until I was out there. Shooting again." Jesse explained. Liberty sighed and adjusted her hat.
"I know it's addicting. I've wanted to be out there for so long! Just riding into the sunset, not knowing where to go. it's all I've ever wanted. But no, you made me promise not to leave. And me, being the doting kid I was. kept my word. Until now. I don't know what came over me. I just thought that maybe. I might get my chance at freedom. You know Mr. Miller? He was so restricting. He didn't want anyone to know that I was the daughter of an ex-outlaw turned back. With him it was like you never existed. All I got out of the house before it went up for auction were these shoulder holsters, the pistols and some old clothes. He wanted everything of yours gone. He told me 'it never does to dwell on dreams' It sounded like something that Frank would say. He said, "Liberty, your father will never come back. The prairie lives in him. He lives in the prairie'." Liberty sniffed rubbing her eye.
Jesse gazed at his daughter and felt his heart swell with pain. She was right. He'd just up and left and he didn't come back. He probably wouldn't have come back.
"I didn't want to believe it at first. You know, every little girl believes her dad is perfect. But when the weeks turned into months and the months into a year. I began to believe that maybe my dad wasn't perfect. Maybe he wasn't coming back. And I was angry. I guess you could say that was the reason I was just a troublemaker. I wanted to do anything, everything and anything, to make you come back. I mean, I probably shouldn't be telling you this. you'll probably just yell and holler and get all pissed, but I even robbed the local bank. It was about a year after you left."
Jesses mouth hung open. He couldn't say anything. What was there to say? She looked at him and he could see the stars reflected in her welling tears. His mind was reeling. She was so hurt by him leaving that she was destroying her life. Before he could even try to speak, Liberty cut him off.
"I remembered you telling me all about your adventures with Uncle Frank, Bob and Cole and I thought that if I made a little news, you'd come back and take me with you. That of course, only got me a serious penalty. I almost got hanged. But Mr. Miller managed to talk the sheriff into me living in the prison for 3 months. If I learned anything in there, which I think was Millers plan, it was that I couldn't bring you back. The night I got out, I made a promise to myself that I would find you. If you wouldn't come to me, I would come to you. And here I am. A pretty stupid idea now that I'm turning it over in my head."
"Libby, I know you were hurt. I hurt you. I am so sorry. It was my fault. This whole thing is my fault. Stupid Cole. If that little shit hadn't messed around and gotten himself in trouble, we'd be home right now. Home and-"
"Miserable? You and I both know dad that when ma died. a part of us died too. You'd have never been happy. We'd have ended up shooting each other eventually." She interjected. Jesse sighed.
"I was gonna say safe, but spoken like a true James. You're right Liberty. I just wish you hadn't gotten caught up in all this. I would die if you got hurt."
"But I won't. Colin and I have been practicing shots since you left. We even played chicken. You know, standing ten paces apart and drawing your gun to shoot a target to the left of your opponent's head? We taught ourselves the outlaw ways. We know that it's dangerous. Please trust me on this. Believe that I can handle myself. God I lived in prison for three months. Riding with the James Younger Gang can't be that bad." She said with a sparkle in her eye. Jesse laughed.
"You know, you remind me of myself when I was young and stupid. Dangerous times indeed Libby."
"But you lived through it. Trust me, I can live through it."
"Ah, but I had help from my friends. sometimes willingly accepted others not so willingly. Can you handle taking some firm directions from your. your. whats that word Frank?" Jesse asked shaking Franks arm. Frank moaned.
"Estranged?"
"Your estranged father?" he smiled wrapping him arm around his daughter.
"I'll try dad. I'll try."
A/N: Sorry if this is too short and a little confusing. I'm not good at talking *laughs*