Billy did catch up with James who was staying in a barn which was about ten miles from the cabin. He managed to break in during the night and stay clear of the owner. "What are you doing here?" James hissed and looked around wondering if anyone had seen him.
"I came to get you. You only wounded the deputy and he said that if you had your head about you, that you should turn yourself in before things got worse. He even said that some judge Brooker or something like that would go fair with you...and me. Remember you brought me into this. You do remember don't you? "
"Yeah, yeah! I do. You just had to be around when I was planning, didn't you? And furthermore, how much worse could they be!" wanted to yell but help his voice to a crisp whisper. His eyes narrowed on his younger brother and waited for an answer.
"Well..." Billy turned and scratched his neck. "Suppose Lilly finally has yer baby...and you weren't there. That would be worse, wouldn't it?" he turned to his brother.
James laughed. "Lilly ain't gonna have that baby fer a month she said. By then I'll have something sorted out."
"By then that deputy will have something sorted out too..." Billy huffed under his breath.
James grabbed Billy hard by the shoulder and jerked him around so the were face to face. James leaned close to his brother, "What did ya mean by that?" he hissed.
"Nothing. I meant nothing." Billy shrugged trying to pull away from his brother. However, James held him tight. "You meant something alright. Now what!" he barked. Billy's eyes widened at the loudness and shear anger in his older brother's voice. He gulped hard and tried to think of a way out of his predicament. "Honest! I meant nothing!" He continued to squirm.
James wasn't buying it and continued his hold. He looked around at the other horses in the barn and then back to Billy. "That deputy has eyes for my gal, don't he?" He shook Billy until the young man nodded yes. James shoved Billy into a pile of hay and quickly moved to his saddle.
"James? What are you gonna do?" Billy remained in the hay.
"I'm going to get me a two-timing girl and finish off that sneaky deputy." He chuckled to himself as the saddled a horse.
Billy punched his right hand into his left. He knew that this situation was not unfolding favourably for all involved. "Don't go James. Not for that reason." He thrashed his way to standing as James pulled himself up onto the saddle.
James peered down at the younger man. "You've got a lot to learn in life Billy. And number one lesson is to look our for yourself. Open the barn door." And with that Billy reluctantly did as his brother asked and watch him ride out into the brightness of day. Billy hung his head low, "There's gotta be something I can do..." He wasn't sure what but he got back up on his horse and followed his brother and prayed that a plan would come to him soon.