Cassie

Rating: PG.

Disclaimer: no one besides Cassie and her family belong to me, no infringement intended.

AN: My apologies for any grammatical mistakes and colourful spelling errors.


Cassie pulled the family buggy to a stop outside Doc Mimms house. She looked down at her frumpy outfit in contempt. For once her mother had put her foot down on a suitable dress and stuck to it. It didn't matter how much of a fit Cassie threw.

'I can't wait for them to see me like this', Cassie thought darkly. 'I'll never hear the end of it'. She pushed open the Mimms front gate and made her way up the steps, being careful not to step on the full skirt of her dress.

Her dress was white with tiny blue flowers and a bright blue sash. Cassie frowned and knocked on the door, tempted to pull all the pins out of her hair.

"Cassie?" Zee Mimms wondered pulling open the door, "is that you?"

"Yeah," Cassie replied foully, "your Daddy home?"

Zee nodded and opened the door to led Cassie in. "Hurt yourself again?" She wondered with a smirk. Cassie had known Zee Mimms as long as she had known Jesse, Cole and Bob.

"Bullet threw me," Cassie replied, then a look passed across her face. "I'm sorry about Webb."

Zee nodded, "me too," she smiled softly. "Here, sit down; I'll get Daddy," Zee pointed to the couch and disappeared down the hall.

Cassie sat down and fiddled with her makeshift bandage.

"Cassie Weston?" Doc Mimms demanded, leaning against the doorframe. "I thought I told you I didn't ever want to see your face around my house again." He laughed and Cassie shrugged sheepishly. "Oh well, let me see." He sat across from Cassie and gingerly took her wrist. He untied the handkerchief and peered down at her wrist; probing it carefully with experienced fingers.

"Rotate it for me," he said and Cassie obeyed. Doc Mimms stood up and returned a few moments later with his kit. "It's not broken, which is the good news; but it is sprained and will be sore for sometime." He took a tensor bandage out of his kit and began wrapping Cassie's wrist. "Now, I'd tell you to take it easy, but I doubt it would do any good."

"Thanks Doc," Cassie said reaching for her change purse. Her Daddy had given her a few coins before she left.

"No, no," Doc Mimms said holding out his hands.

"You never let me pay." Cassie grinned reaching into her change purse. She handed him a few silver coins. "It's not much."

"That's fine." Doc Mimms stood up, "and please Cassie--"

"I will, I will." She retorted good-naturedly. She quickly said goodbye to Zee and walked back out into the warm sunshine. She climbed into the buggy and flicked the reins.

The James' farm wasn't far from Doc Mimms place, but by the time Cassie got there, she was sweltering and sweat dripped down her back. She pulled the buggy to a stop then held out her hand.

"If you say one word Cole Younger, I might have to kill you." Cassie grunted as she climbed off the buggy. She stood with her hands on her hips; Jesse and Cole were staring at her. "What are you looking at?" She demanded. "Haven't you ever seen a lady in a dress?"

"Not Cassie Weston," Cole shot back.

"Well, let's just say I caved. I finally decided to join into proper society and leave you poor boys behind." Cassie grinned. "Now what needs mending?"

"You can't fix the wagon in that." Jesse said.

"Why not?"

"You might...rip it or something," Jesse replied.

"Oh for crying out loud." Cassie exclaimed, "it's a dress; I'm not Mary of Nazareth, now give me the wrench." She held out her hand staring evenly into Cole's eyes. Trying to ignore the fact that he wasn't wearing a shirt and it had suddenly grown a lot hotter all of a sudden. Cassie snatched it from his hand and stared at the broken wheel. "Screws loose."

"We know, we were just going to fix it." Cole replied.

"All right," Cassie handed him back the wrench. "If you knew what was the matter with the wagon why did you ask me to come over?"

"We didn't know," Cole said leaning over to help Jesse put on the wheel. "It just took you so damn long to get here we figured it out."

"It didn't take me that long," Cassie replied.

"It's almost a quarter after one."

"So what? I had to visit Doc Mimms before I came," Cassie held up her bandaged wrist for proof. "So don't blame me, besides I haven't seen Zee for a while."

"Our Jesse made quite the impression on Zee Mimms," Frank declared and Cassie heard Cole snort.

"Oh yeah?"

Frank opened his mouth to reply when suddenly the sound of wagons and pounding hooves filled the James' front yard and the four of them turned around to see a band of glossy black buggy's heading their way.

"Alan Pinkerton," Cassie said pointed, "Thaddeus Reins is making it his business to buy every farm it seems in the county."

"Well come on," Jesse said motioning to Cole, Cassie and Frank. Cassie hung slightly behind following them to the porch just as Ma James stepped out the front door.

The four of them stepped up onto the porch, beside Ma James.

"They made an offer to my Daddy too," Cassie whispered, unconsciously grabbing Cole's arm. He made no move to shake her off and Cassie tightened her grip.

"How you folks doing today?" A man with a trim mustache wondered. Cassie doubted he really cared. "My name is Rollin Parker," he said holding out his hand. He went on when no one accepted his gesture. "This is Alan Pinkerton--"

"We know who you are," Ma James interrupted. Cassie knew where this was going, and unless she didn't know Jesse James at all--knew exactly what his reaction would be.

Rollin Parker went on, ignoring Ma James, "we're here on behalf of Mr. Thaddeus Reins, and the American Railroad. See, your farm here, is right on a piece of land where we are planning to build our railroad. Now, we're willing to buy your land, for two dollars an acre--"

"Two dollars?" Frank demanded and Cassie tightened her grip on Cole's arm.

'Don't do it, don't do it', she prayed biting her lip.

"Now, I think it's best you consider--" But before Rollin Parker had a chance to finish his sentence, Jesse and Frank whipped out their guns. Cassie's face fell and she watched as the James', Cole and Mr. Rollin Parker exchanged words.

Ma James paused, "Jesus says, we can bury them outback."

Rollin Parker quickly tucked his offer back into his coat pocket. "You'll be sorry--" Frank cocked his shotgun and Rollin Parker froze. He turned around and mumbled something to his men. They cleared off the porch and Cassie nervously smoothed down her dress.

"Tell your father not to accept," Frank commanded, "no matter what Mr. Thaddeus Reins offers."

"Don't worry, my Daddy won't accept."

"So you coming around tonight?" Cole wondered and Cassie looked over at him.

"What for?"

"The town meeting," Jesse cut in.

"I guess," Cassie shrugged, "not like I got much better to do."

"You gonna wear that dress?" Frank teased; Ma James, Cole Jesse and Frank burst into laughter.

Cassie narrowed her eyes, "I'll get you," she declared, aiming the point of her boot into Frank's backside. He cried out and Cassie proceeded to chase him around the yard.



All righty! Part one is posted, so review but no flames please!