~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jesse's POV
After gettin' my sister out of her situation we had to do the unavoidable; we went to Doc's. As we rode up the back way Billie stoped." Jesse are you sure."
"Billie don't worry just go we'll wait here."I said. I wanted to go with her but it was just to dangerous. She pushed me a smile and rode towards to farm house. It took about fifteen minutes before she came ridin' back. Only there were two horses ridin' to where we were. At first I figured it was Alison but then I realized the woman ridin' beside her was blond I knew then and there it was Zee. When they got us Billie pulled Jim back Frank Cole and Bob followed them.
"Hello Jesse." Zee said.
" Zerelda," I said this was the most awkward moment of my life.
" Billie told me about Tennessee." She looked at the ground.
"Zee come with us. Please we can start again."
"Jesse I can't... My pa needs me."
" Zee if I would have stayed and not done any of this you would have left him, Please Zerelda come with us."
" I can't Jesse. I'm sorry." She turned around and headed for home. I just sat there awhile then turned and re joined the rest of the boys. Cole reached in to his saddle bag.
" Now Miss Billie I want you to kept this on you at all times." He handed her a baby dragoon. "Got it nowhere with out it because we ain't in to coming back here." She nodded.
"But why is it so small?"
" Billie it's a baby dragoon. All it is a smaller more conciliable version of your typical dragoon." I said. " Now if you guys don't mind I'd like to get the hell out of Missouri."
"Quickest way is through Kentucky from here." Frank said. Billie's face fell she knew what had happened. We rode out of Liberty for what I prayed was the last time. Dodging the lawmen was one thing it was Billie's questions I was dreadin'. To my surprise she didn't asked only whispered " It's for the best Jesse. You'll see." then she fell back with Jim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jim's POV
After we were out of Missouri the boys decided we were gonna camp out in Kentucky. I took wood duty with Billie. I really didn't care what we were doin' as long as I was with her. She took my hand as we walked through the dense brush.
" I missed you Jimmy."She said . I spun her around.
"Not as much I missed you." I grabbed her and kissed her.
"Now see that was just plan mean Jim Younger." Then she kissed me back things were the same nothin' had changed her and I loved that. I smiled when it broke.
"You so did that on purpose so I'd kiss you."
"Maybe," I said teasin' her.
" Maybe I won't kiss you again ever." She said poutin'.
"Wait no I did please Billie. Don't punish me like that" She just shook her head. I thought she was goin' to walk away but instead she kissed me.
"I love you Jim even if you are really naive sometimes."
"I do too. Now we should get so fire wood or Cole and Jesse'll have our heads." I said. She nodded.
The next mornin' we headed to the Tennessee border. I think that would have been the first time Billie's tin star helped us with anythin'.
"Why in sam hell did you go and get yourself in the law." Cole asked, after we passed into Tennessee.
"Because the tin star was nice and to keep you guys out of it." She said. " Now if I'm right home is about a day and a bit away so let's speed this trail ride up."
I rode beside Cole for awhile.
"Cole you got any regrets 'bout goin' to Liberty and not doin' something?"
" It's nothing Jimmy now get up there with that girl before you lose her again." He said.
" Cole, dammit I'm not a kid no more."
"No Jimmy but your still a boy you wouldn't understand now I said git before I beat you."
I didn't push it anymore I rode up beside Billie who smiled at me.
" He'll be fine don't worry Jimmy even if there was something wrong Cole wouldn't say nothing."
" I don't know Billie." She grabbed my hand.
" If you don't believe me go talk to Frank."
"Fine, I believe."
"Good. Now what do you say we just drop it till we're home and we can fix him up with Alison."
" Okay," I looked around everyone else was in their only little worlds by this time even Cole had rode passed us. I figured it was time to get my lovely Billie back for constantly catchin' me off guard. I leaned over and kissed. I swear she almost fell off her horse. She returned it then whispered, "We're gonna get caught Jimmy."
"So I thought you loved the danger."
"It was that, that made fall for you wasn't it." She smiled at me coyly.
