Jim and I sat in silence behind the woodpile after Bob left. The wonderful
thing about a twin is that you don't ever have to explain how you feel,
they just know. So when I jumped up and headed towards the barn as well,
Jim did not question my motives, just followed along.
"There is no way I am going to let Cole go without a fight!" I vented, releasing Jett from his paddock.
"Come on we'll help them in anyway we can, the Younger's stick together!" We rode out at break neck speed toward town.
"Jim and Jaime you get yourselves back home NOW!" apparently Bob did not agree with Jim's family support. He was less than pleased to see us come charging through the door. Frank and Jesse along with Tom and two other town folks, Loni and Clem, were discussing what to do about Cole. Frank's usually warm expression was replaced with a hard look, and Jesse's eyes glinted like iron, both were looking at Jim and I as an unwelcome disturbance. But no attraction to those eyes was going to weaken my resolve to help Cole.
"We're a family Bob, it's because of me that Cole was taken tonight and I will kill any man who tries to stop me from helping him." I said harshly. Instead of arguing Bob looked to Frank for help.
"We can't have her fighting," pleaded Bob to him "and Jimmy's too young.
"Too young?" Spat out Jim defiantly. He whipped his gun out of its holster and flipped it around to show of his skill. "I'm just as good a shot as any man here, and you know Jaime here can outride whoever she pleases with that horse of hers." No one responded to this and no one could deny what Jim had said. Slowly a smile started to spread over Jesse's face.
"Oh lord, he's smiling again," muttered Frank rolling his eyes. Bob looked up at this and began to smile himself.
"Looks like Jesse's hatching one of his crazy plans. Ok you two are in but be careful, we're trying to save a Younger not add more to the death list." Bob said his eyes still on Jesse. At this Jim and I smiled as well, and leaned in to hear exactly what Jesse wanted us to do.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I sat atop Jett the next day holding him still with all my strength. He was so ecstatic to be back with me that all he wanted to do was fly through the prairie.
"Not today." I whispered at him "We have bigger plans today." Behind Jett I held onto the reins of Kirby. He wasn't anxious to go anywhere so luckily holding onto him didn't cause me any extra grief. I was sitting with the two horses behind the last building of the town square. I held my breath waiting for the signal.
"The United States Army hereby decrees that Coleman Younger, convicted of treasonous acts, is to be hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on his soul." Came the monotonous voice of the executioner. At this my heart began to beat hard. I prayed for my signal to come, it was now or never.
And then I heard it, the low rumble, almost a vibration first, of many pounding hooves. Jesse's plan was unfolding. I heard the townsfolk scream and begin to scatter.
"Alright boys now or never, yah!" With that I let Jett loose, and Kirby quickly snapped into the pace of the event. We came bursting into the town square just as Jesse and his horse leapt from the hanging platform after just cutting down Cole. It was my turn to participate now. I pushed Jett towards my brother as fast as I could.
"Here!" I shouted tossing him the reins to Kirby. Cole, never missing a beat, jumped onto his horses back, ready to escape. I continued towards the other end of the town square. I had to pick up Jim who had been with the herd of horses. Behind me I heard the shouts of the Pinkerton men as well as gunfire. I pushed my heels harder into Jett's haunches but he didn't need any more incentive, the sound of the guns had spurred him on. Jim sat just beyond the square where he could not be seen. As I streaked by I held out my arm and he swung up behind me as we continued to ride away from the fiasco.
"How'd it go?" He asked in breathless anticipation.
"We got him, but Pinkerton's men shot at them. I hope no one's hurt."
"But Cole's safe," he said, breathing a sigh of relief. His arms that were securely wrapped around my waist squeezed tight for a moment in a hug.
"And once again the younger family is united." I grinned at my brother's words.
"I hope your right Jim." I said then steered Jett to ride towards the chosen rendezvous point.
"There is no way I am going to let Cole go without a fight!" I vented, releasing Jett from his paddock.
"Come on we'll help them in anyway we can, the Younger's stick together!" We rode out at break neck speed toward town.
"Jim and Jaime you get yourselves back home NOW!" apparently Bob did not agree with Jim's family support. He was less than pleased to see us come charging through the door. Frank and Jesse along with Tom and two other town folks, Loni and Clem, were discussing what to do about Cole. Frank's usually warm expression was replaced with a hard look, and Jesse's eyes glinted like iron, both were looking at Jim and I as an unwelcome disturbance. But no attraction to those eyes was going to weaken my resolve to help Cole.
"We're a family Bob, it's because of me that Cole was taken tonight and I will kill any man who tries to stop me from helping him." I said harshly. Instead of arguing Bob looked to Frank for help.
"We can't have her fighting," pleaded Bob to him "and Jimmy's too young.
"Too young?" Spat out Jim defiantly. He whipped his gun out of its holster and flipped it around to show of his skill. "I'm just as good a shot as any man here, and you know Jaime here can outride whoever she pleases with that horse of hers." No one responded to this and no one could deny what Jim had said. Slowly a smile started to spread over Jesse's face.
"Oh lord, he's smiling again," muttered Frank rolling his eyes. Bob looked up at this and began to smile himself.
"Looks like Jesse's hatching one of his crazy plans. Ok you two are in but be careful, we're trying to save a Younger not add more to the death list." Bob said his eyes still on Jesse. At this Jim and I smiled as well, and leaned in to hear exactly what Jesse wanted us to do.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I sat atop Jett the next day holding him still with all my strength. He was so ecstatic to be back with me that all he wanted to do was fly through the prairie.
"Not today." I whispered at him "We have bigger plans today." Behind Jett I held onto the reins of Kirby. He wasn't anxious to go anywhere so luckily holding onto him didn't cause me any extra grief. I was sitting with the two horses behind the last building of the town square. I held my breath waiting for the signal.
"The United States Army hereby decrees that Coleman Younger, convicted of treasonous acts, is to be hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on his soul." Came the monotonous voice of the executioner. At this my heart began to beat hard. I prayed for my signal to come, it was now or never.
And then I heard it, the low rumble, almost a vibration first, of many pounding hooves. Jesse's plan was unfolding. I heard the townsfolk scream and begin to scatter.
"Alright boys now or never, yah!" With that I let Jett loose, and Kirby quickly snapped into the pace of the event. We came bursting into the town square just as Jesse and his horse leapt from the hanging platform after just cutting down Cole. It was my turn to participate now. I pushed Jett towards my brother as fast as I could.
"Here!" I shouted tossing him the reins to Kirby. Cole, never missing a beat, jumped onto his horses back, ready to escape. I continued towards the other end of the town square. I had to pick up Jim who had been with the herd of horses. Behind me I heard the shouts of the Pinkerton men as well as gunfire. I pushed my heels harder into Jett's haunches but he didn't need any more incentive, the sound of the guns had spurred him on. Jim sat just beyond the square where he could not be seen. As I streaked by I held out my arm and he swung up behind me as we continued to ride away from the fiasco.
"How'd it go?" He asked in breathless anticipation.
"We got him, but Pinkerton's men shot at them. I hope no one's hurt."
"But Cole's safe," he said, breathing a sigh of relief. His arms that were securely wrapped around my waist squeezed tight for a moment in a hug.
"And once again the younger family is united." I grinned at my brother's words.
"I hope your right Jim." I said then steered Jett to ride towards the chosen rendezvous point.