Cassie

Rating: PG.

Disclaimer: no one besides Cassie and her family belong to me, no infringement intended. There are also a few lines and a scene from the movie in this chapter -- they belong to their respective owners

AN: My apologies for any grammatical mistakes and colourful spelling errors. And the first part of this story will be Cassie pretty well added into the movie, but this is obviously not entirely on canon. So it could be considered an AU. I'm also not sure where it is going, so it could slip into more of an AU later on.

Enjoy!


Cassie pushed open the door to the church, where the Liberty town meetings were held. She scanned the small building for a seat and squeezed in beside a few folks in the last pew.

Frank looked at Cassie before turning his gaze to the rest of the people that sat, awaiting his words.

"The railroad doesn't even need our land," Frank began.

Lonny Packwood raised his arm, and Doc Mimm's looked over at him.

"The floor recognizes Lonny Packwood."

Lonny stood up, and shifted his eyes nervously before speaking. "Why try and take it then? When I came home," he gripped his hands tightly together, "they burned down my house, all my animals were dead and well...my wife, Patty; she went off with my cousin." Lonny's voice wavered and suddenly he was overcome with emotion.

Jesse caught Cassie's eyes and tried not to laugh. Cassie muffled a snort into a soft cough as Lonny continued.

"He took my dog!"

"Please," Doc Mimms said gently, "let's try and keep on the topic of the railroad--"

Cassie quickly scanned the rows of heads in front of her, she didn't see Bob, Cole, Jim or Zee and suddenly a bad feeling snaked up her spine and she shivered, just as the door to the church burst open. Cassie jumped and cried out.

"They got Cole," Bob blurted out, he was leaning against Zee who carefully lead him into the church. Cassie leapt up and flanked Bob's other side.

"Are you okay?" Cassie wondered, "what happened?"

Zee looked at Cassie, then to her father. "You're all probably going to want to hear this."

Bob grimaced, "they offered us the same deal -- Jim tried to chase them off but--"

"Oh no," Cassie murmured as she and Zee helped Bob to sit down.

"Then what?" Doc Mimm's prompted.

"One of Pinkerton's men hit Jim and Cole lost his temper," Bob paused, "but only a little."

"How many?" Frank wondered, "how many did he kill?"

"Two," Bob replied.

Cassie's eyes welled with tears as a few other women at the meeting gasped. Frank dropped his hand onto Cassie's shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. Suddenly a realization hit her, "but--"

Bob nodded, looking at Cassie briefly. "They can hang him."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Oh no," Cassie murmured.

"He'll be all right," Frank said softly.

"Well, what do we do?" Cassie demanded, "we can't just let them hang him!"

"Nothin'." Jesse replied.

"What?" Cassie retorted.

"You people go home now," Jesse said looking pointedly from Zee to Cassie, "so you can swear you don't know anything about what's going to happen tomorrow." Jesse shot Doc Mimms a look. "You too Doc."

"Now--" Doc began.

"All of you," Jesse said more sternly.

Doc Mimms opened his mouth to reply, but instead, shook his head. "I guess the meeting's adjourned."

Cassie watched as everyone, save Clell Miller and Lonny Packwood filed out of the church. She bit her lip.

"I ain't going." Cassie said.

"Me neither," Zee replied, walking up beside Cassie.

Clell shook her head; "you're all wasting time."

"Fine," Jesse said finally, "but you stay far, far away you hear me?"

Zee grinned and slung her arm around Cassie's shoulders. Cassie was trembling slightly and trying not to cry.

"Are you okay?" Jesse wondered.

"No," Cassie sniffed.

The side door to the church suddenly burst open and Tom and Jim strode in.

"We couldn't loose 'em," Jim explained.

"Jim!" Bob yelled.

"It's my fault. There ain't no way I'm staying home."

"Let him stay," Cassie said. "He's the same age as you were when you went to war."

"And Webb," Frank pointed out.

"I'm not going to let what happened to Webb, happen to him."

"People die in wars Jesse James," Cassie pointed out, "he knows what he's doing."

"Do you?"

Cassie narrowed her eyes, "yeah I do. Besides, Zee and me are staying far, far away. Remember?"

"What are we gonna do?" Clell Miller wondered.

"Distraction," Jesse said, "catch them off guard."

"Horses," Zee spoke up, "Daryll's horses."

"All right," Frank interjected, "Jesse you ride with the horses and the rest of us will stay around town. Make sure nothing happens." Frank turned to Tom. "After Jesse cuts him down, you take him out to the woods—,"

"I'll go—," Cassie began.

"No!" Frank, Bob and Jesse yelled.

"No, she's right," Zee said quickly, "we used to play out there when we were kids. Cassie's Daddy built us a playhouse. Cole can stay out there with Tom until Pinkerton's men leave."

Jesse shook his head, looking unsure. But then he shrugged. "Fine, but you and Cassie make sure you stay—,"

"Far, far away," Zee finished. "We've got it."



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