Chapter Eleven

"I should kill you!" Mattie shouted. "You had no right to do this!"

Buck took a sip of his coffee, trying not to smile. He watched at Mattie stormed through the kitchen and slam things. He loved it when she was in a rage. It brought out a fire in her that was mystifying to watch.

"Damn it, Buck," Mattie still fumed. "I had a plan, I was going to go with him and take care of this myself."

"Did you not think that he would figure out what you were playing at?"

Mattie rolled her eyes. She felt her hands forming into fists. She slammed her fist down and looked out the window. The rain was falling harder and she could hear thunder. She looked down, feeling tears in her eyes. She had wanted to tell Frank everything. Not just about what happened to James, but what really happened. Suddenly, an idea hit her. She quickly walked into her room.

Buck watched her go into her room and shut the door. He knew her and what she was doing. He quickly jumped to her feet and kicked the door in. Mattie spun around, pulling her shirt over her.

"Get out!" She shouted.

Buck grabbed her arms and threw her against the wall. Mattie felt her head spin, but she stayed on her feet. She tried to push Buck away, but he was stronger and pressed his fingers roughly into her flesh. She bit back a scream.

"You're not going after him!" Buck yelled. "He is nothing but trouble."

"I think that's you!"

"No, Mattie there is something you don't understand," Buck's face suddenly changed. His eyes had a wildness to them that Mattie didn't like. He smiled a little, licking his lips. "I want you, and I get what you want."

Mattie brought her hand and smashed the brass mirror against Buck's head. His grip lessened, and she kicked him off. She grabbed a shirt and rifle and ran out. She saddled Challenger hurriedly and left. She knew how to track well enough that finding Frank would not be a problem. She pushed Challenger and quickly got out of town.

The rain was heavy and hard to see thorough. As she got out of town, she slowed Challenger and followed the trails that were left. She wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she had to get Frank back. He would be killed before he saw trial.

"I think we should stop!"

Mattie looked up at hearing a man yell out. She strained her eyes and noticed that the wagon was just off the trail in a patch of woods right outside of town. She pulled out her rifle and shoot near the wagon.

Challenger reared, but Mattie held on and wheeled him off the trail. She watched for her hiding place as the men came out looking for the shooter. She shot again sending the men in another direction. As the men moved away, she took Challenger into the camp. There was still two men there, guarding Frank. She dismounted and started walking toward the men.

She watched the men and noticed a nearby barrel. She moved toward it, kicking it. The men quickly jumped to their feet.

"Drop your guns," Mattie ordered, holding out our guns.

The men started to laugh. "Why don't you go home darling?"

Mattie shot at one of the men's feet. They stepped back, not laughing anymore. Mattie moved closer to Frank. She could see that his hands were tied and not handcuffed. She pulled out her knife and tossed it to him. He quickly got free and looked at her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Saving you," Mattie said, never taking her eyes off the men. "Get the horse."

Frank disappeared. Mattie grabbed a nearby rope and tied one of the men while the other one stood close by. Suddenly, the other man took off. Mattie shouted and pulled out her rifle. She couldn't let the man get the others. She took aim and went to shoot when someone smashed into her. The impact startled her enough to fire. Her aim was betrayed, and she saw the man fall. She lay there, not believing what had just happened. Then out of nowhere, someone yanked her off the ground. She turned to see the other man. She put the rifle up to use as a club when another shot rang out. The man fell forward as she sidestepped.

Mattie turned to see Frank on Challenger, holding a smoking gun. She was shaking from the rain and the blood. Frank rode toward her and pulled her on the horse. She fell against him as they rode off.

Jesse awoke to the sound of his door opening. He sat up, finding Bob standing in the doorway. Bob looked worn and tired since what had happened to Frank. Jesse put his gun away.

"What's wrong, Bob?" Jesse asked.

"I couldn't sleep." Bob replied. "I keep thinking about Frank."

Jesse looked away. He had been thinking about his brother a lot too. He had never wanted to leave him, but he hadn't had a choice. Or so he thought. He stood up, pulling on a shirt. He was glad to be heading home.

"We'll be close to Heaven Springs tomorrow," Jesse said. "That's where we lost Frank."

"Do you think he is still alive?"

"I have to hope."

Bob let out a sigh. "You remember the first time we went to Kansas?"

Jesse swallowed. He had never forgotten that day. The whole gang had been minding their own business in the saloon when a group of ranch workers came. They were lead by an obnoxious cowpoke, with a nice pair of six shooters. He came in with another man.

The other man was quiet and looked tired. He was armed, but he didn't flash his guns or run his mouth. He even acted as if he didn't want to be there. Both men walked to bar and ordered whiskey.

Then things got out of hand. The cowpoke sat down and started a game of poker with Cole. It took one hand to have the man fuming and calling Cole a cheat. Then both men took the conflict outside.

By the end of the night, both the stranger and Cole were bruised and bloody. Cole had tried to walk away, but the other man wouldn't let him. He went to take a shot at Cole, but the bullet never got to Cole. It hit someone else. It hit the quiet, tired, young man who had come in the cowpoke. He had tried to stop his friend from shooting, but pride is a dangerous thing that can turn the best of friends against each other.