Chapter Thirteen

Mattie awoke alone with the thick wool blanket wrapped around. The storm had finally stopped and there was a little spot of sunshine coming through the stained glass window. She had spent the whole night in Frank's arms, talking and doing other things that may not be right for a church. She sat up, thinking about everything that had been said. She had been upset about the truth of her brother and the fact that she had killed a man. However, Frank had been there holding her and helping her understand.

Suddenly, the door opened. Mattie scrambled up, grabbing her for pistol. She cocked it.

"Mattie, it's me," Frank called out.

Mattie put the gun down and pulled the blanket closer. She looked up at Frank. His shirt was put on loosely, and he had a never-ending smile. He sat down next to her and kissed her head. She leaned against him, feeling his heart beating.

"Your clothes are on the pew," Frank said, laughing a little.

"I know," Mattie smiled. "I just like the blanket."

Frank kissed her. "Well, you'll need you clothes."

"Right now?"

"In a few minutes, I think I found the Gang's trial."

"Where are they going?"

"Back toward Heaven Springs."

Mattie looked up with horror showing in her eyes. The James could possibly pass through the town unnoticed, but she and Frank would be targets. Buck was most likely forming a posse to go out and find her right now.

"Frank, we can't go into town," Mattie said, grabbing her clothes.

Frank let out a sigh. "I know. Is there a way we can get around town?"

Mattie thought for second as she dressed. A thousand trails could keep them out of town. However, they could pass Jesse and the others and not know it. Then, it could be days before they found them again. She tugged her hair up in a tight bun and thought about what they could do. Finally, she sat down with a defeated sigh.

"There are a lot of ways to avoid going through town, but we risk missing Jesse and the others," Mattie explained.

"If we left now, we might be able to catch up with them."

Mattie thought about it. Challenger was a fast horse, and Frank seemed to have a good idea where the rest of the gang was. She pulled her boots on and stood up. Frank stood up.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Come on, if we leave now, we might be able to still catch them."

Frank smiled and grabbed her up for a quick kiss. She kissed him and headed outside of the church. Challenger was standing at an old hitching post, stamping his hoof. He was already saddle and looked a little winded. She knew that Frank must have taken him out that morning while she was sleeping.

"Ladies first," Frank said, swinging Mattie into the saddle.

Frank climbed on behind her, turning Challenger toward the trail leading to town. Mattie watched as the ground moved beneath them. She thought about the confessions from last night. It felt good to have had said most of them, but what she had learned about Buck tore her apart.

Even though, Buck was James' best friend, Mattie had never fully trusted him. She had always thought that Buck only wanted her. What better way to get to her than through her brother. She also remembered that night how Buck had tried to comfort her and console her. She reached over and touched Frank, thinking how her latest decisions had been made on lies she already trusted to be true.

Suddenly, Frank brought the horse to a stop. They were in a small clearing at the edge of the forest outside the woods. Mattie looked around and noticed smoke coming from a nearby campfire. She reached for rifle.

"No," Frank whispered. "They haven't seen us."

"Turn back and take that small trail, it will move us past them."

Frank did as he was ordered and turned Challenger. They started down the narrow path with tree branches scrapping and slapping both of them. Mattie looked over and saw the small campfire. If they were quick and quiet, the men would not notice them. Frank tightened the reins and started moving away.

Mattie bent her head down to miss a limb, when she noticed that there was only about five horses standing there. It couldn't be a posse or the detectives; they would have brought more men. She looked at the horses and none of them looked familiar. Then, she felt Frank pull Challenger up.

"What's wrong?" Mattie whispered so softly that the wind barely heard her.

"I think that's Jesse," Frank replied.

Mattie sat up in the saddle and looked over at the camp. She felt her heart go wild for a moment. She wasn't quite sure what she was supposed to be feeling. Should she be happy that they had found the gang, or should she feel sad because Frank would leave? She forced her heart to slow down and her mind to think.

"Maybe we should get closer," Mattie suggested.

Frank looked around. This place was perfect for an ambush. There was no sign of one, though. He moved the horse forward but stayed in the shadows. He could see the other horses and immediately spotted Jesse's bay. He could also see Cole's and Bob's but one was missing. He moved toward the camp cautiously. He could make out the man on watch. It was Bob, and he looked half-asleep. Frank smiled.

"Hello in the camp," he called out.

Bob quickly and the other were on their feet in a flash. Jesse came running out with his gun drawn and half his face shaved. Cole was only a few steps behind him with the rifle.

"Who's there?" Jesse called out.

"Your brother," Frank yelled back as he brought Challenger into the camp.

Jesse felt his whole body go numb as he saw his brother ride up. He had thought that he had lost him forever. Nevertheless, here he was riding up with a woman, who looked more like an angel than flesh and blood. Jesse took his eyes away from the woman and looked at Frank.

Frank looked better than Jesse had ever seen him. His body looked leaner, but that was to be expected. Yet, his face held an unshakable spark to it. His eyes were no longer dull and listless, but bright and focused on one thing--the rider in front of him.

"Frank," Jesse ran out to take the reins. "I thought we had lost you for good."

Frank smiled and jumped down, grabbing his brother in a huge bear hug. Jesse held onto him to make sure that he wasn't dreaming. The others quickly came out and started to follow what Jesse had done.

"Who's this?" Bob asked when he let go of Frank and pointed to Mattie.

Frank walked over and pulled Mattie from the horse. He kept his arm around her while the men looked her over.

"This is Mattie," Frank announced. "She saved my life."

Mattie felt overwhelmed as all the men, rushed to her. She hugged each one of them, because she didn't know what else to do. Finally, the men let go and went back over to the campfire. Mattie turned and noticed that Frank was looking around.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Frank turned from her to Jesse and Cole. He had looked all around the camp and hadn't seen Jim. Jim wouldn't be on watch. Even though he was a crack shot, he couldn't stay awake for a job like that.

"Where's Jim?" Frank asked.