Ch 14

Lou raced back toward the homestead where the others were waiting. They watched as she jumped from her horse.

"He called it a hypo something needle. Says there are more back east. The bottle was morphine."

"And? What is all that?"

"He said they had to bring it with them as it hasn't really made it this far west. But he says that you stick the needle in an arm and it takes away pain. It makes you relax. He says it also causes confusion and can make you see and hear things. He says it cures everything when you need it to."

"That's why he hasn't ran." Said Kid.

"I was wondering how he didn't get away from two women." Said Noah.

"Well now we know what is holding him. Let's track them. Remember it may be only two women but clearly they ain't right." Said Teaspoon.

They went to get ready to follow the wagon tracks.

Dot and Shannon rode along in silence for quite a while. Jimmy laid there and waited. He reached down and silently untied his ankles. Shannon started rambling on about babies and crying that she would never have one. Dot was trying to talk to her. Jimmy listened as she told her that once she had a child to love, that she wouldn't have the urge to kill ever again. That she would have her a family. Jimmy eased to the back of the wagon. He went to jump out but his legs were still shaky so he fell out the back of the wagon. Dot and Shannon jumped around at the sound. Jimmy stood as they stared at him. Dot went for her gun but Shannon screamed at her. Jimmy ran into the woods. He tripped over limbs and thorns. His hands were still tied making it even harder to balance on his already weak legs. He heard them coming behind him. He knew that old woman wouldn't make it far. As he ran, the world shifted again and he fell back against a tree for support. He couldn't do this now. Damn that shit. He got his bearings and ran on. He ran for over an hour by his guess until he was out of breath. He kept on walking. He saw a trail of smoke up ahead. He came upon an old cabin. A man was outside chopping wood. Jimmy stumbled into the small clearing. The man saw him and drew his pistol. Jimmy fell on his hands and knees panting.

"Son are you ok?" The old man asked.

"No. I'm not. I need your help. Please." Jimmy said looking up shaking.

The man looked unsure then he saw Jimmy's hands were tied and he was unarmed. He ran over and helped him off the ground.

"You in trouble boy?"

"Yes sir. I need you to hide me just for a few."

The old man took Jimmy into the small one room cabin. Jimmy was shaking and swaying so he sat him down in the only chair.

"Let me get my knife and cut these ropes."

"Thanks."

The old man closed the cabin door and cut the ropes from Jimmy's wrists. Jimmy looked around the room nervously.

"Son, why are you so jumpy? It's ok now. Who are ya running from anyway?"

Just as Jimmy was about to answer, he heard the unthinkable. Shannon's voice was calling outside. The old man turned to look.

"There's a woman out there. She with you? She must be in trouble."

"No! She ain't with me. You have to hide me from her!"

"Ya serious? That pretty little thing out there? Ya hit your head or something cause that lady looks real upset like she has lost someone that she loves."

"Listen. I have to get away from them. She is crazy." Jimmy reached a shaky hand over to try to grab the man's arm.

"You a drunk? The way you shaking, you act like you need a drink."

"I don't. Don't go out there." Jimmy said swallowing past his dry throat.

"She is just a woman. Whoever is after you, might be after her too."

The old man opened the door and went outside. Before the door closed, Shannon locked eyes with him. He stood and slammed the door. He put his back against it. He heard her talking.

"No sir, that is my husband."

"Why would you tie up your husband ma'am?"

"He took a fall the other day. He hasn't really been himself. I tied him so I could give him some medicine. It breaks my heart, it truly does."

"Ma'am, he says he is running from you and that whole story seems kinda odd if you ask me. Something is wrong with that boy. He acts like he is sick."

"Well he's my concern and not yours. Bring him out. Now."

"I'm going to see what else he has to say first."

The old man turned to walk back inside. Shannon let out a deep growl as she stomped her foot. She reached over and grabbed his axe. She lifted it and took a long swing, chopping the man in his side. He screamed out. Jimmy heard the yell. He closed his eyes. He cracked open the door. Shannon was standing over the man swinging the axe, again and again screaming that she just wanted her husband. Jimmy looked around. He had to get out. There was only one small window. He picked up the only chair and tossed it through the glass. He heard her coming to open the door. He didn't even finish clearing the debris. He crawled through, the glass slicing his arms and chest. He hit the dirt on the other side. He heard Shannon screaming inside the cabin. He pushed himself up. He ran around the back of the house. Something caught his eye as he rounded the corner. When he stumbled to jump back, he wasn't fast enough. He didn't feel anything as his world went black.

Shannon ran around the cabin but stopped when she saw Dot standing over Steven holding a shovel. Dot looked at a blood soaked Shannon.

"I got him, Shannon. All is fine now ya hear."

"Is he ok?"

"He is fine, nothing we can't fix. I'll get him back to the wagon."

Shannon fell forward to her knees.

"I killed him. I had to. He wouldn't let Steven go. He was gonna hurt him."

Dot looked at the girl. She knew that weren't true but Shannon was all she had left.

"Ya done right. Ya have to look out for the ones ya love. Git off that ground girl. Help me get ya man back to the wagon."

Shannon wiped her blood smeared face and smiled. She stood and together, they pulled Jimmy back to the wagon.