Chapter 4: Gratitude

Jimmy grimaced as Callie carried out a well-aimed blow to his shin with her booted foot. She was fighting him like a wildcat, and it was all he could do to avoid being killed…or killing her, he thought as she caught him again with her foot.

"Jarvis! You can tell who ever you want about me! But I'm not doing this!" Callie yelled over her shoulder.

Jarvis grinned and shook his head, "Too late. Tomorrow we'll discuss it. But right now, my dear, you've been paid for!"

Jimmy actually couldn't believe that no one made a move to shoot him as he dragged Callie towards the stairs. But all the patrons sat slack-jawed and wide-eyed, spectators to the unfolding events, not participants, thank goodness. She sat back against his hands and he pulled her along, almost like a mule. She screeched and screamed the whole way, until Jimmy thought his eardrums might burst.

"Hey, give that a rest, would you?" Jimmy finally asked of her after they were halfway up the stairs and out of sight.

She turned on him with eyes that blazed fire and ice, "If you touch me…" she warned.

"I just saved you!" Jimmy growled impatiently.

She laughed bitterly, "If you think I'd rather bed down with you than Malone, you're wrong."

"Well, there's no accounting for taste," Jimmy snorted in half disgust, half amusement, and kept a firm hand on her arm. Her strength was gone for the moment, which was fortunate for him, because so was his. However, she was refreshed and ready for another go-round as he stood at her door and opened it. It took all of his strength, as well as a split lip from her fist, to get her into the room and close the door behind them. She turned on him instantly.

She fought him as she'd never fought anyone. Her nails raked across his face and she punched him hard in his gut. Finally Jimmy grew weary of it and placed hands on each of her shoulders, thrusting her away from him and thundering "Enough!"

She stumbled backwards and landed on the bed. Instantly she was on her feet, circling him and distancing herself from the bed. Her eyes had the look of a trapped animal.

"If you lay a finger on me…" She began.

To her surprise he broke into laughter and shook his head. "Don't flatter yourself, Callie!"

Jimmy wasn't sure what he saw more of in her face, relief or dented vanity. "What?" She asked in confusion.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Callie," Jimmy said, sighing, "I thought you would have figured that out by now!"

Disbelief registered on her face and then distrust, "why?" She asked suspiciously.

He sighed and shook his head, "Callie, believe it or not, not all men want to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you."

The look she gave him suggested her experience told her otherwise.

Callie paced the room, no longer afraid he was going to try to force her into anything, but still ill at ease with his nearness. What do you want from me then? she longed to ask him.

"How old are you Callie?" Jimmy asked, putting his hands on his hips.

She eyed him, as if trying to discern if she wanted to disclose that information to him. His stare was demanding and she caved in. "Seventeen."

"Good God! And you're out here alone?" He asked incredulously.

"You aren't much older than me!" Callie shot at him, "And you're alone!"

"It's different!" Jimmy insisted. It was true, he actually wasn't much older, but he felt years older. His steady gaze sharpened and she squirmed under his scrutiny. "What are you doing here, Callie?" He finally said softly.

She looked away from him, though he did his best to hold her stare. "All right, don't tell me! But you listen to me Callie, and listen good!" He saw her bristle at the authority in his voice, and it just spurred him on, "You are going to pack your bags and get out. Tonight! You will come with me to the pony express station. You'll be safe there until we can get you home!"

She laughed bitterly and glared back at him, "This is my home!"

Jimmy didn't smile back. He was completely serious when he told her, "Then I suggest you find a new one!"

"What concern is this of yours?" She spat hatefully, "I am not your problem! Why do you feel the need to save everyone?"

She shrank from him as he stormed toward her, stopping only inches away. His voice was low and dangerously quiet when he spoke to her. Callie would have preferred he scream at her than tower over her and speak in the tone he used now.

"What concern is it of mine?" he repeated, then took a step closer to her, "Let's try this-I just spent forty-five dollars, not a penny of which was mine, to save your honor! And you're asking me what concern is it of mine that you just sit here and let the same thing I just stopped happen to you tomorrow?"

Against her better judgement, Callie didn't back down. She sensed there was something dangerous about Jimmy Hickok, and the talk around town gave her every reason to believe she was right. However, she now stood toe to toe with him, glaring into his eyes. "I didn't ask you to save me! I haven't asked anything of you! And you expect me to fall to my knees and kiss your boots in gratitude?"

Jimmy stepped forward and took her chin gently into his hand. He tilted her head back and stared into her eyes. She drew a startled breath when she looked into his eyes. She was certain he intended to kiss her.

"I don't expect you to kiss my boots! But you'll do well to remember that you are at my mercy here! It wouldn't hurt you to act just a little thankful, even if you don't mean it!"

"Don't you dare threaten me!" Callie growled and stormed to the other side of the room, where she looked out the window.

Jimmy shook his head and sighed. The girl had bravado, he had to give her credit for that. She was stubborn as a mule and too proud for her own good, but underneath all that, she was scared and she was alone. He tried to remember that when the urge to toss her from the window became too strong. And while she'd never admit it to him, he knew she was grateful for what he'd done. "Don't you realize what Jarvis would have done to you, Callie?" He finally said softly.

Something in the tone of his voice got to her, and she glanced at him in surprise, her eyes filled with tears.

"Get out of here Callie. Save yourself!" Jimmy pleaded with her, and walked to stand before her, "he'll kill you!" Tears streamed down her face now, and it twisted his heart. Slowly he reached out to cradle her cheeks and wipe at her tears with his thumbs. She stood there for only a second before she backed away and angrily wiped the unwelcome tears away herself.

"I signed a contract. A legal contract saying that I work here for at least one year. And Malone isn't going to let me break it."

"Run away," Jimmy said simply.

"It isn't that easy," She said, "He'll find me. He said so and I believe him."

"Then come to the station with me. I'll protect you."

The sincerity in his voice seemed to startle and amaze her. Her wide eyes slid to his. He blushed and added, "We all will." He paused to let his words sink in. "Why did you sign the contract, Callie?" Jimmy asked next, feeling he was finally getting somewhere with the girl.

She didn't answer and turned away, her cheeks flaming.

"Why, Callie?" he pushed.

"None of your business! I can take care of myself! I don't know how many times I have to tell you that!" Callie was suddenly every bit as angry and defiant as when he'd first seen her. Her moment of weakness had passed and she would now make up for it with more bitterness than ever. Jimmy knew she was using the nastiness to hide something from him.

Jimmy sighed, "You're the damn fool, not me." He ignored her as she bristled, and held up a hand to stop her retort, "Never mind, Callie. You win. I'm leaving. But you need to take my advice and get out of here. Next time I won't be here to save you. I can't afford it!" He reached for his hat, which was hanging at his back and placed it on his head. He paused with one hand on the door, not looking back at her, "The Pony Express station is on the west end of town. You can't miss it. If you get into trouble or come to your senses, you can always come there. No one there will hurt you, I swear it! Whether I'll be there if you do come depends on how well Teaspoon takes the news of what happened to the supply money."

Callie longed to go with him. The consequences for both of them were too great though. He started to slip out the door. Callie looked at the neckline of her low cut dress and mumbled, "As soon as I can raise forty-five dollars, I'll pay you back."

Jimmy smiled slightly and glanced at her, "Use it to get out of here any way you can. As for me, a simple thank you would be payment enough."

She blushed in shame. She hadn't even thanked him. She was horrified by the change in what used to be her manners. Jimmy knew perfectly well that it would have been much easier on Callie to raise the forty-five dollars than to raise her eyes to his and give him words of gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Hickok," She said at last softly, and glanced up "And I do mean that."

His smile was warm, and he didn't gloat like she might have expected of him. "You're welcome. My friends call me Jimmy."

With that, he closed the door. She'd just let what might be the only person left in the world who gave a damn what happened to her walk away. And she was once again, alone. The tears that Callie had held back suddenly came forth as if the floodgates had been opened. She slid down in the floor with her back to the bed, and pressed her hands to her eyes, sobbing.

Jimmy bowed his head when he heard her. It broke his heart. But, he thought, Teaspoon was right. He could only do so much for her before she had to take a step towards him. He let his head crash back against the wall and stared at the ceiling, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He was going to have a hell of a time explaining why in God's name he had spent forty five dollars in the saloon, instead of on food and supplies.


Jimmy walked back through town slowly. Callie occupied his every thought. Why was she working for Malone, how had he gotten her to sign the contract, and why was she so afraid of breaking it? He shook his head. She needed his help, he was sure, but she was too afraid and too proud to ask him for it. He knew he should just walk away, and forget about her. But that wasn't going to be possible. After he'd looked into her eyes he'd been certain that he couldn't just walk away.

Jimmy was still thinking in circles when he made it back to the station. Wanting to put off the confrontation that would surely follow when he broke the news about the money to Teaspoon, he opted to go into the stable and feed his horse first.

He was more than a little shocked as, when he entered the stable, a shower of cold water hit him squarely in the face.

He cried out in surprise and wiped the dripping hair from his eyes, ready to draw his gun. Lou stood before him, holding a now-empty bucket and looking scared for her life. Jimmy looked down at his soaked clothes, then back up at Lou, then down at himself again. He finally raised his eyes to hers nonchalantly for an explanation.

She pressed her hand over her mouth in the hopes of stifling a bark of laughter and was largely unsuccessful. "I thought you were Jesse! We've been having a water fight, you see…and I thought…you were him…" the words disappeared into a long, low giggle.

Jimmy supposed she was winning the fight, judging by the lack of water on her. That should be remedied, he thought.

"I'm not Jesse," He pointed out quietly.

When she saw the look on his face she yelped in fear and took off in the opposite direction.

"You'd better run!" Jimmy yelled, grinning and giving chase. She was fast, though, and she burst out of the other end of the barn, laughing wildly and shrieking in delight. Just as he was about to run out the door after her, a figure stepped forward. It was too late to stop, and he ran right into the next onslaught of water.

He stopped abruptly and turned to Kid who was already laughing too hard to stand up straight. Jimmy put one hand on his hip and the other rubbed the water from his eyes.

"Don't you think you could wait till after winter to have a water fight?" He asked through teeth that were beginning to chatter. Kid was still laughing too hard to answer him. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes as he howled and gasped for air. Jimmy contemplated shooting him.

Then Jimmy saw Lou and Jesse both creeping up behind him with reloaded buckets. He decided then that a bullet would be too quick of a death for Kid.

"If you could have seen the look on your face! You ran right into the water! I wish you could have seen it!" Kid finally gasped out. About that time Lou and Jesse both ambushed him from each side with both buckets, and soon he was sputtering and coughing.

"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea of what I must have looked like now!" Jimmy assured him, and it was his turn to laugh.

All of them stood there for a moment, and Jimmy forgot about Callie for the first time since he'd met her. He looked at Lou, who was the only dry one in the bunch. Kid met his eyes and raised his eyebrows, inclining his head ever so slightly in Lou's direction. They both leapt for her at the same time.

She screeched and fought them, but to no avail as Kid secured his arms around her upper body and Jimmy got hold of her legs.

Soon, they held her over the water trough.

"No!" She yelled, "Please, don't!" She laughed nervously, as if she couldn't believe they might actually drop her in the cold water, "Come on, boys. This isn't sporting. You're bigger than me!"

"That don't mean you don't ride as hard or shoot a gun as straight," Jimmy intoned, channeling Teaspoon.

"You already proved you're as good as any of us--Hickok, Cody, any of us!" Kid agreed.

"If you do this..." she threatened, focusing her attention on Kid.

"Beg, and we might not do it," Kid told her.

"Never!" She growled in defiance, and they lowered her closer to the water.

"All right, all right!" She implored hastily, "Please, please don't do this to me! Oh please!"

Jimmy and Kid met eyes, and sensing the golden opportunity at hand, grinned wickedly. She was theirs now.

"Who is the best looking rider in the whole pony express?" Jimmy asked wickedly.

"Oh you are!" Lou said quickly, then screeched again as Kid lowered her upper body only inches above the water, "I mean, you both are! You both are equally handsome, and no one else in the world is quite so handsome as both of you."

"I don't think she means it," Kid said doubtfully, looking at Jimmy.

"Oh, I do! I do mean it! You're both very, very handsome. All the girls in town say so!"

"Nah, you're right, she ain't being sincere," Jimmy agreed.

With that, they dropped her into the trough. She came up shivering and looking fit to be tied. She splashed them both with water. Jimmy and Kid, both already soaked, laughed at her efforts. She glared at them, and Jimmy was glad she didn't have her gun. She wasn't pleased with the way events had turned out at all.

Suddenly she was staring at him, "What happened to you?"

Kid and Jesse looked over at him too, and for the first time they noticed the scratches on his face, the bruise appearing by his left eye, and the blood on his lip.

Jimmy sighed and stepped forward to help Kid lift Lou out of the water.

"Nothing compared to what's going to happen to me after I tell Teaspoon what happened! Come on, I only want to tell this story once."


"What do you mean you don't have the money?" Teaspoon all but whispered at Jimmy.

Jimmy glanced uneasily around the bunkhouse from where he sat alone at the table. He felt as if he were on trial. The other riders all sat at their bunks, watching closely. Kid and Lou sat together, huddled in a blanket by the fire. Jimmy shivered, not so much from the coldness of the water still soaking him, but from the tone in Teaspoon's voice. He felt about five years old.

"I spent it at the saloon," He said, cringing as he heard his own explanation.

"Dare I ask on what?" Teaspoon growled.

"Callie," He said simply, bowing his head and preparing himself for the worst.

He wasn't disappointed, "You did what!" Teaspoon thundered, nearly splitting Jimmy's ears.

"Jimmy!" Cody said in surprise.

"Shut up Billy!" Noah warned the blond rider. There was no need in making this harder on Hickok than it had to be. The way he figured it, Jimmy would be riding double duty for the rest of his life as it was.

"It isn't what you think," Jimmy said quickly, and the words tumbled out quickly. The others had never seen Jimmy so unsure of himself, "Malone was going to take her upstairs and have his way with her! Offering him all that money was the only way I could stop him!"

"Did it ever occur to you that the money wasn't yours to offer?" Teaspoon asked incredulously. It wasn't like Jimmy to be so careless.

"Not at the time! All I could think about was stopping Malone!" Jimmy said, and sighed, "I'll pay you back Teaspoon. You can take it out of my pay."

"Yeah, I know I can!" Teaspoon growled, "But it ain't as simple as that! Now we are out forty-five dollars that should have been used on food and supplies for us."

"Teaspoon, we ain't gonna starve," Lou pointed out, touched by Jimmy's heroics.

"I don't need any help from you!" Teaspoon snapped.

Lou set her mouth in a straight line and glared back at Teaspoon through wounded eyes. Jimmy glanced at her appreciatively and she winked.

"Teaspoon, she's just a girl! She's seventeen!" Jimmy said, "She's in over her head, and I just couldn't sit there and let that happen to her! You taught us better than that!"

"And you plan on robbing banks for a living so you can keep putting yourself between her and Jarvis Malone?" Teaspoon asked, "Don't you realize what you've done? If Jarvis wasn't thinking about whoring her before, he'll sure as hell do it now, because he knows how much he can get for her!"

Jimmy dropped his eyes, and shook his head, "I didn't think of that."

"Then what did you think?" Teaspoon demanded.

"That she'd come with me back here, and that we'd help her get home!"

Teaspoon sighed, "Son, I don't know if you realize this, but the girl has signed a contract with Malone, I'm certain! It is a binding agreement! She can't just leave!"

"I know that now!" Jimmy protested sheepishly, feeling like an utter fool, "But Jarvis forced her to sign it somehow! I know it!"

"Doesn't matter, Jimmy," Teaspoon said, and his voice softened ever so slightly, "But what does matter is that he's got her signature on a piece of paper."

Jimmy nodded miserably, wishing he didn't understand.

Noah added quietly, "So she's as good as sold."