"HELP, HELP" Mari screamed as she ran down the street towards Pinkerton's office.
She ran up the steps towards the door. It was the next day and Jesse and Jim were due to be hung in three hours time.
"Where do you think your going?" Said one of the men at the door.
"Please I must see Mr Pinkerton; I've spotted the James- Younger gang."
"Inside" The man grunted and pushed Mari through the door.
"What is the meaning of this rude entry?" Pinkerton shouted as Mari turned to see him.
"This young lady reckons she seen the James-Younger gang." The man said as he left."
"Really" said Pinkerton sarcastically.
"I swear to god sir I've seen them, they attacked my husband and I in the woods." (WELL SHE HAD SEEN THEM)
"You're sure it was them."
"Definitely they shot my husband sir. They shot him dead."
"Tell me what happened and quickly."
"Well, we were walking in the woods and he said he heard someone and made me hide in the bushes. Next thing I knew they came out of no where screaming about revenge, and then they asked him where our house was. One of 'em said they was gonna hide there and they shot him sir, they shot my husband, my Harry." Mari wept hysterically into her hands.
"Where is your house Mam"
"It's just outta town past the water tower."
"I know it." Pinkerton said smiling and ushering Mari towards the door.
"Oh no sir please don't make me leave, please let me stay here, I feel safer."
"Very well, you there stay here with this young lady and don't let her out of your sight" he shouted at the guard.
"Yes sir." The man said quietly and with that Pinkerton left. Mari sat and smiled to herself.
"I'm so glad I'm safely here with you." She smiled at the guard. He wasn't much older than her maybe nineteen or twenty. He straightened his jacket nervously and smiled politely.
"I bet you have all types of criminals in here don't you?" Mari sighed wandering across to the guards. "What are they for?" she asked sweetly pointing at the guard's keys.
"The cells" he replied bluntly.
"You don't say a lot do you? Don't worry I used to be ever so shy, till my Harry came along? Completely changed me my Harry did. My dear, dear Harry" Mari turned and smiled as she pretended to cry and fell to her knees. "Oh my Harry how will I live without him?"
"Here" the guard sighed and handed her his handkerchief.
"Thank you" Mari sobbed and wiped her eyes.
"The James-Younger will be caught and prosecuted for their treason." Mari pulled herself onto a nearby chair and slipped her hand behind her back and pulled out her gun from inside her boot. "Jesse James will be the first to go and then that Jim Younger. From what I've heard Jim Younger won't be missed."
"What did you say 'bout my Jim?" Mari shouted as she jumped to her feet and aimed the gun at the guard.
"I … I…"
"Give me your keys" Mari commanded, the guard fumbled with the keys and held them out to Mari. She kept the gun on him and reached out for the keys.
"Where are they? Jesse and Jim" she asked.
"Row four and six the two end cells." The guard stuttered.
"Thank you" Mari smiled "Now after you" She said opening the door to the cells with her left hand. "Go on go" She said and the guard went through the door.
"Stop" Mari said calmly. "Here open that door" se said handing him the keys. The guard did so with trembling hands and handed the keys back to Mari.
"In you go" She smiled, and locked the door behind the guard. "You've been most helpful." She lowered her gun and headed off down to row four. In row four she found Jesse doing press ups.
"Keeping yourself in shape I see." She smiled; Jesse didn't look up from the floor.
"Well I wanna be in shape for our great escape." He sighed standing up she saw his arms and feet were chained.
"Marietta Winslow what in god's name are you doing here?"
"Well fine, I'll just leave you here then." Mari smiled and turned to leave.
"Hey I'm kidding, get me outta here." Jesse laughed. Mari opened the door and unlocked the chains on Jesse's hands and feet.
"I don't know what happened to Jim, I tried callin' to him but he didn't answer."
"He's right down the end." Mari said running off to find her lover.
"JIM, JIM." She called, but no reply came. She reached row six and ran to the end cell. She couldn't see any one there but then in the dim light she saw Jim sprawled in the floor, with a small pool of blood around his head.
"No" Mari gasped and fumbled with the lock. She eventually got the door open and ran to Jim.
"Jim" She whispered. "It's Mari, can you hear me, wake up, we've got to go." She started panicking, and then Jesse appeared in the doorway. Jim groaned, and Mari breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jesse you'll have to carry him." Jesse nodded and picked up his unconscious friend. He followed Mari out to Pinkerton's office and through the back door where the others were waiting.
"You're early" Mari smiled as she and Jesse lifted Jim up in front of Bob on his horse. As they did Jim woke up and looked around in shock.
"Well good morning little brother" Bob smiled. "Nice of you to join us"
"Mari, jump up with me." Cole said holding out his hand
"Thanks" Mari smiled and pulled herself up. Jesse pulled himself on behind Frank and the gang set off to the next town to hide and let Jim rest.
"Well I think he'll be alright after a few days rest." The doctor said to Mari as he left Jim's room at the hotel in the next town. Jesse and the others came in.
Mari stayed and sat by the window reading a little book of poetry. She sat there for an hour or so when Jim stirred and she dropped her book and rushed over.
"How you feelin'?" She smiled.
"Mari" Jim mumbled.
"I'm here."
"Am I in heaven?" Jim said staring around.
"No your still here"
"Figures"
"Why?"
"Well I doubt you get headaches like this in heaven" Jim said with a weak laugh. "Where are we?" he asked.
"I don't know exactly" Mari sighed. "But we're safe here" Mari smiled and climbed up on the bed beside Jim.
"Why did you think you were dead?" Mari asked.
"Well if I was in heaven you'd be the only angel for a million miles." Jim sighed as he drifted back to sleep. Mari smiled and fell asleep herself.
"Hey sleepy heads, wake up" Cole said shaking both Jim and Mari.
"Breakfast is served." He smiled as a maid placed a tray on Jim's lap. It had two bowls of porridge and a glass of water on it.
"Best money can buy." Cole smiled. "Oh I almost forgot, boys." Jesse, Frank, Bob and Tom came in and Jesse stepped forward.
"Special occasion" Jesse smiled as he handed Jim a bottle of whiskey.
"Thanks guys" Jim smiled. "I think I'll have to get hurt more often."
"You dare. You scared me half to death." Mari said gently punching Jim's arm.
"Hey" Jim laughed.
"Do I detect a little romance in the air?" Bob smiled. Jim looked at Mari.
"You told them." He said looking confused.
"No I didn't, Jesse you …" Jesse shook his head. "Then you told them Cole."
"Not me." He laughed.
"Ahhh, so I'm right there is some romance here. Well Jesse I'm afraid you and Zee are no longer the best couple, that prize is going to these two love birds. I knew something had happened while we were away." Bob sighed.
"It wasn't why you were away." Jim interrupted. "It's always been there, I've always loved Mari." Mari blushed. "And it only really started when she joined the gang."
"Well Jesse I'm sure you and Jim will be wondering how we managed to rescue you without being so rudely disturbed by those Pinkerton men." Frank smiled.
"As a matter of fact I was" Jesse smiled as he and Frank sat themselves down into the chairs by the window.
"Well I think we should let Mari do the honours as it was mostly her idea." Cole smiled.
"Well I'm no good at telling stories I say Bob should tell it as he's the best."
"Alrighty then" Bob said taking off his hat. Jesse and Jim listened carefully as Bob told them of Mari's plan and of what happened up at the farm.