Ch 16

Dot pulled to a stop in front of the hotel. She helped Shannon down. She went in to get them a room. Dot stayed back with the wagon. Shannon soon walked out and produced a key smiling. Dot went and got Jimmy by his arm. Jimmy was laying on his back reaching up to the sky. Dot pushed his arm down and pulled him out. He stood and almost fell. The big woman frowned as she tried to steady him. Jimmy kept blinking his eyes.

"Come now. It ain't that bad." Said Dot.

"What did you give him?"

"Enough."

"People are staring Dot. People are staring."

A voice came from behind them. They looked around.

"Hickok? Is that you? You ok?"

Jimmy looked all around trying to find where the sound came from.

"Howdy ladies. Jimmy, I'm right here. Is he ok?"

"He's fine. He had too much to drink that's all. We are trying to get him inside so he can sleep it off." Said Dot as she spat her tobacco out.

The man looked at them funny.

"Please do excuse him just this once. I didn't want him to cause a scene." Explained Shannon.

Riley looked closer at Jimmy. His eyes looked funny and he seemed very confused. He was looking around oddly and he was jumpy. Not like Hickok at all. Jimmy didn't drink.

"Let me help you get him to his room."

"I got it." Dot said as she pushed the man away.

"Dot, that sounds like a great idea. It will be much faster. Thank you sir."

"It's Riley, ma'am."

"Thank you Riley."

Riley wrapped Jimmy's arm around his shoulders.

"Lead the way."

He followed along behind the two women, pulling a stumbling Jimmy along. The women went to unlock the door. Riley looked at Jimmy's hands and wrists as his sleeve inched up. He saw the raw bloody tracks from a rope. He also noticed that he didn't smell whiskey on his breath. He helped Jimmy inside and to the bed. Jimmy fell back and the bed creaked.

"Hear that? You see it? I don't know." Jimmy mumbled.

"What?" Asked Riley.

"There." Jimmy said pointing all around.

"What Jimmy?"

"The wall. Something is in there. Hear me? I see you." Jimmy moved and the mattress creaked.

"Shhhhhh." Jimmy smiled.

Riley was watching him until Dot went and stood between them. Shannon went to Jimmy. She bent over him.

"Steven. Please rest. Close your eyes." She whispered.

"What is wrong with him? He don't drink and he ain't drunk." Said Riley.

"He is our concern. Thanks for ya help." Said Dot.

"Well he is my friend and I ain't leaving him like that!" Riley said pushing the woman out the way.

Riley went and shoved Shannon off the bed. She fell to the floor. She started shaking with anger. Riley grabbed Jimmy's shoulders and pulled him up to sit.

"Jimmy! What is going on?! Come on, I ain't leaving you!"

"I see it. Horse."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!"

"Butterflies are smiling. See it?"

"Fuck Jimmy."

Riley felt something close in around his throat. Shannon jumped on his back, growling in hate. She had wrapped her leather belt around his neck. Riley pushed her against the wall. She held on. Dot came and grabbed him from the front. He couldn't get Shannon off. He couldn't breathe. He fell to his knees and onto his chest. Dot watched as Shannon kept choking him long after he was gone. She finally managed to pull her off. Jimmy was laying back giggling.

"I had to. I had to. He was taking him. I had to do it again." Wept Shannon.

"It's ok. Ya had to protect him. Ya protect the ones ya love. Always remember that."

A knock came on the door.

"Everything ok in there? Someone heard a loud noise."

"I got this."

Dot opened the door slightly.

"Sorry her husband is a drunkard. He fell. We got him in bed now."

"Ok if you need anything, let me know."

"Yeah, yeah." Dot said as she closed the door.

"What are we going to with him?"

Dot pulled Riley's body into the corner. And moved the dresser in front of him.

"He stays here. Out of sight until we leave. We'll be gone before they know."

"I'm so sorry but I had to kill him. No one can take Steven."

"I told ya, it's ok. We will be gone tomorrow. All this will be over."

"He doesn't want to stay, Dot. He runs away from me!"

"Look at him, he is right there. He ain't running now."

She looked at Jimmy nodding off on the bed.

"We can't keep him, Dot. He will keep trying to run. He left me and started a new life out here. I just thought I was lucky that I found him when I did but he won't stay! He keeps disappointing me! Why does he do that?! I need him to be my husband not some crazy person!" Shannon yelled.

"Shhhh. Now Mrs. Shannon. Someone could hear. He is yours in every way. We will find us a new home away from here. He will see but it will take time. Once that baby is on the way, he won't even think of leaving ya ever again."

Shannon stood and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. She pushed Jimmy's hair away from his face as he dozed.

"Steven, you are going to be great father and we will have the life that we are supposed to have." Smiled Shannon.

Jimmy opened his eyes and smiled. Shannon's face lit up.

"Steven, how are you dear?"

Jimmy tried to focus. He looked up at the face in front of him. He looked at the bright colors all around the room.

"Happy." He finally said.

Shannon squealed.

"I'm so happy to hear that. We are going to have a great life! I love you!"

"Love you too Lou." Jimmy mumbled smiling.

Shannon jumped off the bed shrieking. Dot ran over to try to calm her.

Teaspoon and the others rode into town. They tied their horses.

"If I were two women traveling, I'd get a room first." Stated Lou.

"Buck, Kid. Check to see if their horse is at the livery. Lou come with me to the hotel."

Teaspoon and Lou walked up to the clerk.

"You have two women check in here? A man should be with em. Maybe not too long ago."

"I had one set come in but they were alone. Another young lady checked in. She stands out because her husband was drunk."

"Drunk huh?"

"Yeah, this early in the day. She was such a nice lady. It really is a shame that she would be married to such."

"Which room?"

"I really can't say."

Teaspoon laid his badge on the counter. The clerk looked at it. They all looked up as they heard screaming.

"Tell me damnit!"

"214!"

Teaspoon and Lou ran up the stairs. They listened outside the door.

"You heard him Dot! You heard what he said! That lying cheating snake!" Shannon spun around pulling her hair screaming.

"Shannon! Stop it! Ya going to bring people here! Stop!"

Shannon stood shaking all over. She screamed again. Teaspoon kicked open the door. Lou ran in behind him. He looked around. He saw Shannon freaking out across the room. Lou ran over to Jimmy. He was awake staring at the ceiling. She pulled him until he sat up.

"Where's the other one?!" Yelled Teaspoon.

"Watch out!" Yelled Lou but it was too late.

Dot was behind the door. She held the wash basin in her hands. She hit Teaspoon in the back of his head. He hit the floor, his gun skidding against the wall. Lou turned back to Jimmy. She pulled him to his feet. He smiled at her. She frowned at him trying to make him move. He stumbled.

Dot came up and grabbed Lou. Lou turned and hit Dot in the face. Shannon started screaming louder. She charged at Lou, knocking her down. Jimmy sat on his knees looking around. It had been a few hours. He was groggy and unfocused. He sat swaying trying to get a grip on things.

Lou fought as Shannon tried to choke her. She kicked her away and crawled toward Teaspoon's gun. Dot saw and kicked it farther away. Then she saw Jimmy's friend Riley dead in the corner. She had to get the others. Shannon stood up and pulled her up to stand by her hair.

"I see you looking at him. I had to kill him. He wanted to take Steven! Just like I have to kill you for trying to take his love away from me! You stupid whore!" Screamed Shannon.

Jimmy recognized Lou. Lou. She was here. He pulled himself up and went to grab Shannon. Dot saw and pulled Jimmy back. Shannon was choking Lou. Lou was trying to fight back. Dot shoved an unsteady Jimmy against the far wall. She pulled out her needle.

"No!" Yelled Jimmy.

Shannon spun around hearing Jimmy yell.

"Don't you hurt Steven! I love him!" Screamed Shannon letting Lou go.

Lou laid there gasping for air. Kid and Buck came running into the room. Kid saw Dot with the needle holding Jimmy against the wall. Jimmy wasn't hardly struggling, still feeling weighted down. He managed to turn to his side. Kid fired, hitting Dot in the side of her chest. Buck pulled Lou over to them. Dot looked over and fell to the floor.

"Lou?!" Yelled Jimmy still not making a move to run.

"Oh my God!" Screamed Shannon.

Kid went to fire again but she turned Jimmy in the line of fire.

"Why Steven! What's wrong with you?!" She screamed like a mad woman shaking him.

Jimmy lost his balance and stumbled back. Shannon pushed against him. She ended up pushing Jimmy into the window. Kid ran over but they shattered the window and fell down onto the slanted roof. Kid looked out. Jimmy and Shannon rolled down the roof. They fell off the building and onto the hard dirt below.

"Jimmy!" Kid yelled.

He looked up in time to see Shannon getting to her feet holding her side as she stalked towards Jimmy who was laying in the street barely moving.

"Jimmy!" Kid yelled again.

A shot rang out. Shannon stopped. Kid looked to see Noah and Ike on their horses. Noah's gun was pointed at Shannon.

"Steven." She said as she reached for Jimmy falling onto the ground.