Chapter Ten
Mattie awoke with the afternoon sun shining on her face. She took a deep breath and started to sit up when she noticed an arm draped over her waist. She was surprised to find that Frank was still there. She nestled back down, thinking. She knew what she had done was thoughtless and foolish. Frank was a pawn. All she wanted was revenge on her brother's killer, and Frank was the only way she was going to find the murderer.
Mattie let out a long sigh and removed Frank's arm. She slowly climbed out of bed and pulled on her clothes. She walked back out to the corral and watched Challenger and noticed the sky growing cloudy. She couldn't understand how she felt. At first, she had saved Frank because she thought he was a stranger in need. A quite handsome stranger. Then she found out who he was. Now, it was different. She felt more alive than she had since her brother died. There was also something about Frank. He had a kind and loving character that any woman would want.
"Why did he have to find his way into my town?" Mattie said as she rested her head on the fence.
"Because its closest thing to Heaven a man like me can get," Frank said as he walked down from the back porch.
He looked different. He smile was brighter and larger. His color had returned to his face and the rest of his body. She could also see that he was no longer favoring his wound. She smiled at that realization. Then, an idea hit her. She turned back to the corral, pretending that she hadn't noticed Frank.
Frank walked over, put his arms her waist, and kissed her gently on the back of her head. Mattie closed her eyes as she felt his touch. Then, she shook her head, trying to shake the feeling that was going through her. She didn't like feeling this way.
"Frank," Mattie sighed out, turning. "There is something I need to tell you."
Frank looked at her and bent down kissing her. Mattie resisted for only one second and then fell into him. She couldn't understand what was happening. She had never been one to need or want a man, but the way Frank's arms felt around her made her feel more than she wanted.
Frank let go and brushed some hair out of her face. "What did you want to tell me?"
"Well, your wound is healing," Mattie felt tears in the back of her eyes. Deception had never been her strongest point, but she didn't feel that she could lie to Frank. "You could leave at anytime."
Frank grinned. "What if I don't want to leave?"
Mattie thought that he had slapped her. He had to leave; that was the only way that her plan was going to work. She faked a smile and looked at the ground.
"You have too. Your brother is probably worried about you."
Frank let out a sigh. He knew that Jesse was probably searching for him, but this was the closest to Heaven that he had ever been, and he liked it that way. He liked not running and looking over his shoulder. He could stay here and maybe help bring the town back to life. He could even marry Mattie and make her happy again.
"Mattie, I have been thinking," Frank began.
"About how you should have left," someone said from behind.
Mattie and Frank turned around in one motion to find Buck standing there. Mattie glared at him and then noticed the man standing with him. He was dressed in a dark, brown suit with a black derby hat. She could see that he was wearing a gun, and the men standing behind him had six shooters along with rifles. She swallowed hard.
"Buck, who are these people?" Mattie struggled to get out.
One of the men in the suits stepped up and produced a pair of hand shackles. Frank tensed as he realized what was going on. He remembered these men and their fancy suits. They had come to his house before, and they had killed his mother. They were the Pinkerton Detectives. He had known this day was going to come, but not like this.
"Mr. James," the head guard stepped forward. "You need to come with us, and I would prefer to do this the easy way."
Frank looked at Mattie. If shooting started, she could be hurt or even killed and he didn't want that. He walked toward the men, holding up his hands. Mattie stepped forward.
"No, you can't do this," she grabbed for Frank.
Frank turned and pushed her back. "Mattie, they have a right to take me. My name isn't Douglas, it's James. I'm Jesse James's brother."
Mattie tried to muster a fake surprise. She had known this for a long time and never pretended not to. She bit her lower lip and tried to think of something to say. Finally, she didn't care anymore.
"I know," she said softly. "I've known for a long time."
Buck walked over and put an arm around Mattie as the men started shackling Frank.
"That's right," he smirked. "Sweet and innocent Mattie isn't such an angel. She's been planning to turn you in for a long time."
Mattie felt heat rush to her face and tears form in her eyes. She could feel Frank's eyes eating through her as he searched for answers. She looked up, and the love that Frank had had in his eyes was gone. It was replaced by pure hatred.
"Frank, I didn't…this isn't what I wanted!" Mattie screamed as they drug him off.
Frank didn't look back. He could hear Mattie's cries, but he would not turn around. He looked up at the sky and noticed storm clouds moving in. His Eden was slowly turning to Hell.
The rain was falling in torrents as he climbed in the back of the wagon. It felt good in some way. It was like a cleanser that was showing him all of his mistakes. As it drove out of town, he looked up one last time and saw Mattie standing on the front porch, holding a post. He couldn't tell if it was the rain or an illusion, but she looked as if she as if she mouthed two words. I'm sorry.