~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jim'sPOV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was layin' in bed tryin' not to make eye contact wit my brother. Friggin' Cole always comin' in at the wrong time. Never mind the fact I really didn't really want to be lectured on the fact that if I wasn't so hurt Cole would be kickin' my ass all the way back to Tennessee. Cole started to talk and I thought at first it was goin' to be the lecture.

" So I see your feelin' better."

" A bit."

"You know Jim you sure gave us a scare," I nodded my head. " She was losin' it with out you so you better not try nothin' like this every again." I nodded again I could feel my eyelids closin' again. " I guess I'll be goin' 'cause your lookin' pretty tired Jimmy. We're leavin in the mornin' if your up to it."

" I guess so, Cole thanks."

" For what little brother."

"Takin' care of Billie for me." He nodded and left. I could after he said that she was losin' in it that Cole had made sure she was alright for me. Billie was a James and they one of two things when they got upset got even or ran. Billie usually did the second. I could here the boys outside of my door cheerin' the fact that we were goin' home for good, it was a nice fellin' to have. I could feel myself fallin' asleep.


I woke up just before the sun set that night it was quiet. I tired to get up unsuccessfully of course. I don't see how Cole expected me to go home tomorrow mornin'. I let out a sigh then it dawned on if I could get up with out havin' to bend then I'd be fine. I swung my legs out to the side of the bed and put my feet on the floor. I let myself slide until my knees where touchin' the floor next came the hard gettin' from my knees back to my feet. I decided the best way to get up was one leg at a time. I was fine until it came time to get up when I found out it was impossible to do without bendin'. Just when I thought I was all out of miracles Jesse came in room.

" Jesus, Jim in hell's name are you doin'."

" Tryin' to get up." I said innocently. He grabbed my arms and got me on my feet.

" Boy, you know Billie would have a fit if she seen you like this never mind Cole."

" I know but I gotta get up it's killin' me just layin there."

"Try doin' it for two weeks." I had to laugh.

" Jesse how in hell do you guys think I'm supposed to ride like this." I asked leanin' on the chair beside the bed.

" You're ridin' with my sister and we're goin' to pony Maximus back home." I nodded.

" Now are you goin' to get back to bed or are ya comin' with me to see the boys." I thought about it for a second.

"I think I'm goin' to see what I got left in me." I said lettin' go of the chair and puttin' my weight on my right side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Frank'sPOV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimmy was doin' better the next mornin' when we got ready to leave the stiches where still fresh though so he had to be careful. Cole was content that we had finished this war once and for all and Bob said as long as the corn didn't shoot back or get the house blown up again then he was happy to be goin' home. My brother on the other hand was heart broken again. Missouri wasn't good for him it brought back memories that we better best left in the past where they belonged. I don't see why but he hides his feelings so well maybe it was not to upset the rest of us or maybe it's his damn ego that's in the way.

He sure did he fair share of shootin' while we were fightin' I wasn't sure it was so much out of prevention but more out of revenge. To this day he'll swear that it was the railroads fault that he lost Zee the first and second time. If they had just stayed out of Liberty none of this would have happened.

I thought about it as I put the end my mare's leg in my saddle bag. My thoughts were interrupted by my sister.

" Frank are you ready or what." She said with a smile.

" Yeah, yeah Britches let's go." I said before mountin' my horse.

" Let's ride boys." Cole said. I couldn't help but look back at Billie and Jimmy smilin' at each other they were the two who had gotten the most out of this. They had seen how much they really needed each other. God willin' they'd never have to go through what Cole and Jesse were. I was ridin' up in front alone at first then Bob came and rode with me.

"Hey Frank you think it's over for good this time." He asked.

" I sure hope so. I wouldn't wanna see what happens if it's not." I said.

"I wanna have a life like we would have if none of this would have happened Frank you think that could happen."

" I don't see why not. Fate in is in the hands of it's possessor Bob." He nodded.


We were home by the next evenin'. Everyone went to there rooms after we got Jim to bed. I was thinkin about goin' to sleep when there was a knock on my door.

" Come in." I said.

" Frank, you busy." It was Jesse.

"Not at all."

"You know I think we could rebuild for good this time." He said. " I think I could find someone new you know instead of Zee. Ali likes Cole a lot and I think that they might start somethin'. Bob's got some lady friend in town you know even you could find someone."

" Maybe. Jesse I knew all a long we could restart it was just a question of you wantin' to." He nodded.

" Good Night Frank."

" Night Jesse." At least he was finally realising that this was a good thing. I decided that I was goin' to go to bed just as I did there was another knock on my door.

" Come in."

" Hey Frank you ain't goin' to bed are ya." From one sibling to the next.

" Not just yet," I lied but that's what you do for you siblings I guess.

" I was wondering if you would come pick guitars with me for awhile."

" Yeah I guess I could do that." I grabbed mine from behind the door. " I'll meet you on the front porch." I said. She nodded and went to get her own. I went down stairs and lit a lantern. And brought it out with us.

" Frank I made up this song I wanna show you." She said. I nodded and she started to play. We played around for a good two hours before goin' in whether or not she went to bed or not now that I'm not quite sure.