With the morning sun, Fidelity rose up from the horizon before an exhausted Jett and me. I could swear my legs would never work properly again, after I had persisted Jett race through the whole night in order to catch up with the boys this morning. But I knew my discomfort would have to be shoved aside for a little bit longer. My help was needed today, the day of the boy's first attack on the railroad company.
The morning dew had not been substantial enough to settle the dust on the road into town, and the kick up from a group of horses still hung in the air as I entered the main street. Jett did not object to my slow cautious pace, and I could feel him sluggishly strain towards the water troughs outside the storefronts. Obligingly I let him wander to one outside of the feed store, which sat two stores up and across the street from the bank. I could see Jesse and Cole's horses standing outside of there. I pulled the leather hat I had taken from home, it once belonged to my father, down low over my face incase any of the others were around and would recognize me. I doubted that they could though, as I was wearing my hair tucked under that hat, one of Jim's shirts as well as an old pair of his denim pants covered by a pair of Bob's old brown leather chaps. But I was worried about Jett; she was a magnificent animal, something that always caught the eye of any true cowboy, like my brothers.
While Jett drank deeply from the water trough a horse came riding in briskly from the other side of town, I watched it come closer, trying to identify the rider. He slowed down and attempted to acquire a casual pace as he hit the high street, yet I could see the strain the man had to put his overexcited horse under, in order to keep it at bay. The animal sensed his rider's anxiety, and what's more, Jett sensed it. His head came out of the trough sharply and looked around for the beast that carried the familiar scent. Even with the morning light still fooling my eyes, I knew the rider to be Frank. His horse had always been around Jett when our families got together and his reaction confirmed my suspicion. I quickly slid down the side of Jett that kept me shielded from him, and pulled Jett's head back to face me, so he would not be recognized in turn. I held Jett's head close to mine, using it as a shield while watching Frank's every move. Calmly I petted the soft part of Jett's muzzle to try to keep him steady for as long as possible, who knew what would happen in these next few moments.
Frank nodded curtly to a few people, none whom I recognized, until the third one. A gangly lad in a long trench coat was milling around by the town bulletin board, once acknowledged by Frank proceeded to cross the street towards the bank. Jim sure did look funny in Bob's old coat, but this was no time to scoff at amusing fashion choices. I watched him nervously as he approached an older gentleman about to enter the bank.
From across the street I couldn't hear what was said at all but my heart began to race as the agitated old man to up his walking stick and began to bop Jim about the head. I watched the antics continue, all the while steeling myself to stay put. Bob had now entered the scene, but his luck was no better than Jim's. The old man would not be quieted. I glanced up to find Frank, and saw him motioning to one more person down the street where I couldn't see. Suddenly Indian Tom was there and after a few moments, all was quiet. I let out a long breath, suddenly realizing I hadn't bothered to breathe for a bit there, and again looked to Frank to find any indication of what would happen next.
But right then two explosions of sound went off, startling me so, I almost let go of Jett. From the bank doors, Jesse and Cole bolted out like lightening, and streaked for their horses, and from behind me, two men came sailing out of the building next to the Feed Store. As I turned to see them, two things made my heart stop, the sound of rifles being cocked, and the flash of metal on their chests, as the morning rays glinted off the Sheriff and Deputy Badges.
One man raced to the edge of town while the other pulled up short and positioned himself next to a hitchin' post. He aimed his gun at the backs of the group of horseman now halted in front of the rifle of the sheriff. I couldn't be an idle observer any longer, I let go of Jett's reins and with a little motion of my hand told him to stay put. I walked silently along the store fronts until I was a short three paces behind the deputy.
The sheriff was shouting at my boys about how they would leave the money or leave their lives in this town. Jesse laughed cockily saying his guns outnumbered the sheriffs so he'd like to see him try it. Just as the deputy found Jesse's head in his sights, I drew my gun, and cocked it right next to the man's temple. The man tensed and froze, and my voice caused all the rest to do the same.
"I can't abide a man who does not show himself to his enemies, and I thought the law was supposed to be honorable." I spoke calmly and clearly, making sure that the deputy, the sheriff and every single one of the boys could hear me. It was odd how lucid I felt at this moment when I'd always imagined the absolute terror of pulling a gun on another human being. The deputy however had lost all shred of confidence, and quickly dropped his weapon in the dirt at his feet. As his hands came up into the air beside his head I titled my head to the side, keeping my eyes and gun locked on the man's head and whistled for Jett. He responded promptly, and as he trotted up I motioned the deputy to back up far enough for me to pick up his rifle and swing up into the saddle.
"Well Sheriff, you might want to reconsider that gentleman's offer, since you've only got your one gun against their eight..." I then aimed his deputy's rifle at his head. "Well, make that nine." With that, the flabbergasted Sheriff pulled aside his gun and stepped clear of the road. But none of the boys left. I could feel their shocked gazes still riveted on me, I knew from the instant I talked that would recognize me, and the appearance of Jett just confirmed what they thought to be impossible.
The fact that they just sat there frozen made me nervous, sooner or later the townspeople would catch on to what was happening at the end of the main street, and I was sure at least more than man would be willing to help out the sheriff. With a loud whoop, I drove my heels into Jett's flanks and we took off at top speed for the wilderness beyond Fidelity. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief as I heard the rest of gang follow suit. Once the town was out of sight, I let Jett slow down enough to allow Cole's horse to draw up level to us. Having no idea what to say. I kept my eyes forward and casually asked.
"Where are you camped?"
"'Bout two miles down, cross the river then three miles east into the forest."
I nodded and pushed Jett forward once again, until we were clear from danger, I didn't want to tempt a conversation. And so in silence we all rode away from our first bank robbery.
The morning dew had not been substantial enough to settle the dust on the road into town, and the kick up from a group of horses still hung in the air as I entered the main street. Jett did not object to my slow cautious pace, and I could feel him sluggishly strain towards the water troughs outside the storefronts. Obligingly I let him wander to one outside of the feed store, which sat two stores up and across the street from the bank. I could see Jesse and Cole's horses standing outside of there. I pulled the leather hat I had taken from home, it once belonged to my father, down low over my face incase any of the others were around and would recognize me. I doubted that they could though, as I was wearing my hair tucked under that hat, one of Jim's shirts as well as an old pair of his denim pants covered by a pair of Bob's old brown leather chaps. But I was worried about Jett; she was a magnificent animal, something that always caught the eye of any true cowboy, like my brothers.
While Jett drank deeply from the water trough a horse came riding in briskly from the other side of town, I watched it come closer, trying to identify the rider. He slowed down and attempted to acquire a casual pace as he hit the high street, yet I could see the strain the man had to put his overexcited horse under, in order to keep it at bay. The animal sensed his rider's anxiety, and what's more, Jett sensed it. His head came out of the trough sharply and looked around for the beast that carried the familiar scent. Even with the morning light still fooling my eyes, I knew the rider to be Frank. His horse had always been around Jett when our families got together and his reaction confirmed my suspicion. I quickly slid down the side of Jett that kept me shielded from him, and pulled Jett's head back to face me, so he would not be recognized in turn. I held Jett's head close to mine, using it as a shield while watching Frank's every move. Calmly I petted the soft part of Jett's muzzle to try to keep him steady for as long as possible, who knew what would happen in these next few moments.
Frank nodded curtly to a few people, none whom I recognized, until the third one. A gangly lad in a long trench coat was milling around by the town bulletin board, once acknowledged by Frank proceeded to cross the street towards the bank. Jim sure did look funny in Bob's old coat, but this was no time to scoff at amusing fashion choices. I watched him nervously as he approached an older gentleman about to enter the bank.
From across the street I couldn't hear what was said at all but my heart began to race as the agitated old man to up his walking stick and began to bop Jim about the head. I watched the antics continue, all the while steeling myself to stay put. Bob had now entered the scene, but his luck was no better than Jim's. The old man would not be quieted. I glanced up to find Frank, and saw him motioning to one more person down the street where I couldn't see. Suddenly Indian Tom was there and after a few moments, all was quiet. I let out a long breath, suddenly realizing I hadn't bothered to breathe for a bit there, and again looked to Frank to find any indication of what would happen next.
But right then two explosions of sound went off, startling me so, I almost let go of Jett. From the bank doors, Jesse and Cole bolted out like lightening, and streaked for their horses, and from behind me, two men came sailing out of the building next to the Feed Store. As I turned to see them, two things made my heart stop, the sound of rifles being cocked, and the flash of metal on their chests, as the morning rays glinted off the Sheriff and Deputy Badges.
One man raced to the edge of town while the other pulled up short and positioned himself next to a hitchin' post. He aimed his gun at the backs of the group of horseman now halted in front of the rifle of the sheriff. I couldn't be an idle observer any longer, I let go of Jett's reins and with a little motion of my hand told him to stay put. I walked silently along the store fronts until I was a short three paces behind the deputy.
The sheriff was shouting at my boys about how they would leave the money or leave their lives in this town. Jesse laughed cockily saying his guns outnumbered the sheriffs so he'd like to see him try it. Just as the deputy found Jesse's head in his sights, I drew my gun, and cocked it right next to the man's temple. The man tensed and froze, and my voice caused all the rest to do the same.
"I can't abide a man who does not show himself to his enemies, and I thought the law was supposed to be honorable." I spoke calmly and clearly, making sure that the deputy, the sheriff and every single one of the boys could hear me. It was odd how lucid I felt at this moment when I'd always imagined the absolute terror of pulling a gun on another human being. The deputy however had lost all shred of confidence, and quickly dropped his weapon in the dirt at his feet. As his hands came up into the air beside his head I titled my head to the side, keeping my eyes and gun locked on the man's head and whistled for Jett. He responded promptly, and as he trotted up I motioned the deputy to back up far enough for me to pick up his rifle and swing up into the saddle.
"Well Sheriff, you might want to reconsider that gentleman's offer, since you've only got your one gun against their eight..." I then aimed his deputy's rifle at his head. "Well, make that nine." With that, the flabbergasted Sheriff pulled aside his gun and stepped clear of the road. But none of the boys left. I could feel their shocked gazes still riveted on me, I knew from the instant I talked that would recognize me, and the appearance of Jett just confirmed what they thought to be impossible.
The fact that they just sat there frozen made me nervous, sooner or later the townspeople would catch on to what was happening at the end of the main street, and I was sure at least more than man would be willing to help out the sheriff. With a loud whoop, I drove my heels into Jett's flanks and we took off at top speed for the wilderness beyond Fidelity. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief as I heard the rest of gang follow suit. Once the town was out of sight, I let Jett slow down enough to allow Cole's horse to draw up level to us. Having no idea what to say. I kept my eyes forward and casually asked.
"Where are you camped?"
"'Bout two miles down, cross the river then three miles east into the forest."
I nodded and pushed Jett forward once again, until we were clear from danger, I didn't want to tempt a conversation. And so in silence we all rode away from our first bank robbery.