Chapter V Thunder and Lighting
By: tk421beth
Chapter Summary: Jessie and Billy are scouting the area, when they suddenly get caught in a crazy thunderstorm! They head for shelter and wait for it to pass, but it looks like the storm will last throughout the night…
Billy and I rode in silence, scouting around the area where we set up camp. We didn't see anything, and it looked like staying here would be okay for a few days. I thought about Doc, and feverishly hoped that he was all right. I have a feeling that he went to go see Yen…Murphy's china doll, but Doc would be foolish to go back to Lincoln now!
"Jessie!" Billy rode up next to me, interrupting my thoughts. "Let's check that cave out." He pointed at a small mountain. "Anyone can easily hide in there."
I nodded, and followed Billy up the mountain. The sky was growing dark, I noticed, looking towards the west. Black clouds swirled overhead, and a slight wind started to blow. Twilight was upon us, and what looked like a heck of a storm. I've always been afraid of thunder and lighting.
All of a sudden, the thunder rumbled overhead. I looked up again to see lighting streak in the sky. My horse whinnied, as she nervously followed Billy's horse up the mountain. "It's okay, girl." I soothed her, patting her neck. I hoped it was okay!
The rain began to fall, big, huge drops from the sky. More lighting and thunder quickly followed. I shuddered in fear, but rode on. The rain quickly got more violent, and by the time we made it to the cave, both of us were soaked to the skin. We both hurriedly dismounted and rushed inside the cave with our horses.
"I guess you were right, Jessie." Billy laughed, as I tied our horses to some of the small shrubbery that was growing just inside the cave. "It's going to be some hell of a storm!"
The cave was pretty big, and it looked like no one had been here in a while. I anxiously looked around, but could see nothing. It was very dark, the deeper you walked into the cave. I hoped no rattlers were resting here!
"Scared?" Billy teased, sensing my fear.
"No!" I shouted, as a roar of thunder startled me, sending me three feet in the air, drawing a shriek out of my mouth.
I could see Billy smile at me, as the lighting streaked through the sky, lighting the cave for a moment. "No, huh?" He chuckled, as he took off his jacket, and started to unbutton his shirt. "And geese don't fly south for the winter!" He made it a statement, not a question.
"What are you doing?" I demanded, my eyes widening in question.
"I'm soaked, Jess, and so are you. We need to get out of these wet clothes." He quietly explained.
I gulped, and quickly started to gatherer kindling. I was freezing with cold, but I didn't complain. There was no way I was going to get undressed here! I busied myself in starting a small campfire. I could hear the rain get louder and louder, with even more thunder and lighting. We seemed to be right in the middle of this crazy thunderstorm, and I hoped Charlie, Chavez and Steve were okay.
Smiling at the success of my campfire, I walked over to my horse, and to my dismay, all my clothes were drenched! "Bloody hell!"
"What?" Billy asked, walking up behind me.
"My clothes," I exclaimed, quickly going through my saddle bags. "They're sopping wet!" I turned around to face Billy. I gasped, for Billy had taken off his shirt, and peeled down his long johns over his trousers. I have never seen any man bare-chested, not even my own Father! My eyes lingered for a moment, as Billy stared back at me, and started to beam. I could feel my face flush, and quickly turned away. "My blanket, and…b-bed roll are…" Billy was now at my side, standing very close. It was like he knew that he was making me feel uncomfortable, and he was enjoying it! "Are…are…s-soaked also." I stuttered, much to my mortification.
Billy started to check his bags. "I have two dry blankets… and my bed roll." He told me, continuing to check his belongings. "No dry clothes, though, damnit!"
Oh God! I open my mouth to say something, and then suddenly sneezed. I saw Billy open his mouth to say 'Bless you' when I sneezed again, and then again!
"Shit, Jessie, we need to get you out of these clothes, pronto!"
I looked at him in alarm. "No, I'm fine!" I told him, trying to smile, wiping the wetness from my face with the sleeve of my shirt. I felt my teeth start to chatter with cold. I knew Billy was right, but I couldn't!
"That's stupid! Course you're going to have to change your clothes! If you get sick, I'll have to leave you here, do you want that?"
"No." I whispered.
Billy touched my arm, and gasped in surprise. "You're freezing! Jesus Christ, Jessie! Get undressed now, you hear me?" He commanded. Billy rustled through his saddlebags, and handed me one of his blankets.
I just stood there dumbly, holding Billy's blanket.
"Shit, Jessie. Do as I say!" He barked at me.
Gulping, I headed towards our horses and undressed between them. My fingers shook with cold, as I unbuttoned my shirt, and pants. I glanced over at Billy, whose back was to me and I could see he was now taking off his trousers. Blushing, I quickly looked away, and hurriedly took off the rest of my clothes, and threw the blanket over me.
I sneaked another look, and saw Billy sitting at the campfire, his blanket around him. The rain continued to fall, bringing the thunder and lighting with it. I knew we would have to stay here for a long while.
Billy then glanced over at me. "That a girl! I knew you'd see reason! Now, all you have to do is lay your clothes on that rock, next to mine. We'll just wait for them to dry." He indicated a large rock that was close to the campfire.
I slowly did has he commanded. After I was done, I sat on the ground across from Billy, clutching the blanket around me. I was wearing nothing! Not even my boots! I felt more vulnerable than a newborn kitten, with its mama gone to feed.
I notice Billy pull something out from under his blanket. Oh, it's a bottle of whiskey! The only time I ever drank was about a year ago, when Father was gone for a week, and it was just me and the kids from the nearby ranch. Dick who was left in charge of me, was mad as hell, but never told my Father about that time.
What was strange about the whole thing is that I did not get sick. The other kids were acting very silly and throwing up all night. I drank as much whiskey as they did, but it didn't affect me as it did them. This shall be interesting, indeed! I smile at Billy, wondering what happens when he drinks alcohol!
Shivering from the cold, I see Billy take a long swig and then hand the bottle to me.
"Here you go, Jessie. This will keep you warm." He hands me the bottle.
I grasp the bottle with a shaking hand, and take it from him. I hesitantly sniff the bottle, for show, and look at him.
"Ah, come on, Jessie! It ain't that bad! It's time now for you to prove yourself a man!" Billy dares.
I shoot Billy a dirty look, and take a healthy swig, longer than Billy's, I made sure. I hoped it would warm me up in a hurry!
He looks at me in shock, when I pass him back the bottle. I did not gag, nor make a face after I drank the whiskey. Two things he more likely thought I would do.
We take turns drinking the whiskey. As in the past, the alcohol does not affect me one bit.
"Where'd you get that ring?" Billy asked, pointing at the ring on my right hand. "Did your sweetheart give that to you?" He laughed.
"I don't have a sweetheart!" I insisted, glaring at him.
"Oh, yes you do!" Billy continued to tease. "The newspapers say so!"
I give him a dirty look, as he laughs. "Let me see it."
I made sure the blanket was tightly around me, got up and walked over to Billy and sat next to him.
Billy gently reaches for my right hand, to study my ring. I feel warmth spread up my arm when he touches my hand. What was it about him? Why do I feel this way? The whiskey doesn't alter his speech or actions that much. He is definitely not intoxicated. Perhaps Billy is also alcohol tolerant!
"That's a pretty ring, Jessie." Billy told me, inspecting my ring closely, still holding my hand. "JMT…what's you middle name?"
"Michelle. My Father gave me that ring on my birthday…before…b-before he was…" I couldn't say murdered. I just couldn't say it out loud. The recent killings of Father and Dick were all of a sudden too much for me to bear. My lower lip trembled, as a sob rose from my throat. Hot tears threatened to spill from my eyes. My free hand flew to my mouth, as I was trying like mad to keep from crying.
Billy didn't say a word, didn't have to. He pulls me towards him, and holds me in his arms, as I cry on his shoulder. Never would I cry again. Never.
But…it feels good to cry. I wept for my Father, Dick and what my life is going to be like from now on. I'm wanted. I'm worth $150 dead. Murphy's men and bounty hunters are after me, wanting me dead. Hell, they're after all the Regulators, too. What will I do now? My parents are deceased. Dick is dead. I have the Regulators, but in all actuality, I have no one.
Billy held me close, one hand caressing my hair, the other holding me by my waist. "Jess, don't worry. You have me. I'll take care of you." He whispered into my ear.
I sighed, wondering how, once again, Billy can read my thoughts.
I sat there wrapped in Billy's embrace, my face pressed deep in the bare flesh of his neck and shoulder. As I breathed in his musky scent, I felt secure for the first time in weeks. My surroundings melted away, I was no longer aware of the fire burning; the cold stone walls that surrounded us, or the strong embrace of the man that held me. I seemed to be floating in space. I felt myself slipping deeper into darkness. Thinking to myself, how much easier it would be to just let go. Like a lifeline, Billy's soft words in my ear brought me back to reality.
"Jessie, sweetheart, you have to be strong, for yourself, and for me. We'll be strong for each other."
He lifted my chin up with his fingers, and looked deep into my eyes, as his lips pressed softly against mine. I could feel a heat starting to burn from deep in my chest, as our kiss deepened. The only thought that raced through my mind is that I needed him. I need to feel alive. I need to feel something other than the pain. I could tell he desired me by the way he held me. We gave into our passions and became one.
I awoke the next morning to find the fire we lit the night before, like our passion, were merely embers now. Snuggled up to Billy for warmth, it was hard to put my feelings in perspective. I felt like I reached a threshold in my life. The last of my innocence was now gone. Was I now a woman? It all seemed like it really didn't matter. My night with Billy made me realize I had to set different priorities now. What did I want from my life? What did the future hold for me? Do I even have a future? It all seemed meaningless. Billy's arm was still around me when I got up. I stood there naked, not caring about the childish inhibitions I had the night before. I quickly dressed and woke Billy. "We better get back. The others will be worried."
Billy awoke and propped his head up with his arm. His blue eyes looked at me quizzically. "Are you okay?"
I look down at him and smile. "As okay as any girl would be in my position." Without another word, I saddled our horses and packed all our provisions while Billy dressed himself.
Before we arrived at camp, I glance over at Billy. "Thank you."
Billy stares at me with a perplexed look on his face. "For what?"
I just smile and ride ahead of Billy into camp.
As we arrive, I see Charlie, Chavez and Steve where we left them yesterday, and upon seeing us, they look relieved.
"Where the hell were you both?" Charlie demands, as Billy dismounts. "Jesus Christ! We were worried!"
"We got caught in the thunderstorm." Billy calmly tells him. "We found shelter, and had to stay there."
I too, dismount, and wince in pain as I do so. I had no idea that I would be so sore.
"Are you okay, Bonita?" Chavez asks.
"I'm fine." I look up at Chavez, to see him staring into my eyes. He knows. Chavez knows!
"Your Father would not approve." He simply states.
"Bloody hell, Chavez! My Father's dead and buried! I don't need another one!" I snap at him.
Chavez just stands there, taken aback at my outburst.
Normally, I would feel guilty for what I said to Chavez…but that was the old Jessica. I no longer felt like a child, therefore, I would no longer accept being treated as one.
Everyone's attention is drawn to the sound of an approaching rider. I see Billy's hand instantly go for his six-shooter. Without thinking, I realize that I'm holding my shotgun, my finger on the trigger. I breathe a sigh of relief and relax a bit, as I realize its Doc. He waves at us, with his wounded hand in fresh wraps. Doc's all right. Thank God! I smile over a Doc, my heart swelling with happiness as he grins back at me. Maybe this is where the pain begins not to hurt so badly.
Doc dismounts, and gives me a big hug. Everything has changed…but it was so good to have Doc back!
"Regulators!" I hear Billy shout. "Let's ride!"
"Sheriff Brady," I whisper to myself, mounting my horse. "The Ides of March are upon you. It's now time for your reckoning."
Author's Note: This chapter was extremely difficult to write! Many thanks to: Naomi, Sue and my husband Tom!