128 Days
Summary: How far would you go to save someone you loved? Jess and Slim discover it takes 128 days.
Chapter 1~ 35 days
The early morning sun streamed through the frosted window pane creating a rainbow of colors across the body of the sleeping man. He woke slowly. It was too quiet. All he could hear was his beating heart. He shivered as he raised his head above the nest of blankets and glanced around the room. His best friend's bed was made. There was no indication that he'd ever disturbed the sheets. The man sighed as he slipped beneath the warmth again. ' No need to get up yet,' he thought to himself. As he closed his eyes once more his lips lifted in a silent , heartfelt prayer. "Let him be safe and warm, God."
Slim Sherman was not a man who liked to be lazy. He'd been raised by a hard-working rancher and knew that chores didn't do themselves. He was up and dressed within a few minutes of his awakening prayer and as he waited for the water to heat on the stove, he strode to the front door to survey the yard. His tall frame fit the opening and he gazed around the corrals and finally the hills beyond. Much as he wished, there was no lone rider coming in. It was another day without Jess.
The calendar mark he'd made read 35 days. Thirty- five days and no word. 'He could at least have telegraphed Mort,' he thought irritability. He wondered where his Pard was. He shook his head as he drank his coffee. Jess was somewhere between here and St Louis, of that he was sure. His thoughts turned toward Jess, as they always did when his best friend, more like a brother, was away from the ranch they ran. He smiled ruefully. Daisy had once called them 'her bookends' and when pressed had explained that together they held her, their adopted son, Mike, and the ranch together. Jess had blushed at the thought and then laughed when Mike had exclaimed that the ranch must tilt 'cause Slim was so tall and Jess so much shorter.
Slim rembered that he'd taken Mike onto his knee and patiently explained that the difference in their heights wasn't the important part of their bond. "While I may be taller, I can't mount and dismount as fast as Jess," he rembered saying. "Why Jess can do lots of things better than me!"
Mike's eyes grew as big as saucers and he snuggled in his lap. He loved hearing about his fathers and always felt safe in Slim's arms. "What things? " he asked of Jess.
Slim sipped his coffee and sunk into his chair, remembering the conversation that followed. "Jess can follow a trail better than I can and no one shoots faster, you know that!"
Jess had blushed and had mumbled something about chores but then stopped suddenly and recounted all the things that Slim was good at. "He can get across the street faster, cause he's got those long legs and he's good at keeping the ranch books. He can explain things better than I can and he writes better too!"
Slim stood up and rested the cup on the table. He remembered one last thing. Daisy had held them all in her arms and had exclaimed that the family was blessed because they all had different skills and they all loved each other.
It was going on noon, when he stopped to have some lemonade. Mike was off on an adventure with Mort for the week so he looked forward to hearing about the fishing trips and the many interesting games they played together. Mort was turning out to be a great godfather. (see "A Second Chance")
His eye caught movement above the tree line and saw the afternoon coach coming in. He hoped that Daisy was a passenger. He had missed his second Mother. She had become an indispensable part of his life and although he would never wish to cause her pain, he desperately hoped that he and Jess had been wrong about Walter.
Walter had arrived amidst a rain storm that had all the ferocity of an angry bear. At first glance, he was ordinary looking. A distinguished older man with graying hair and a pot belly that spoke of many fine meals and easy living. His clothes, despite the dust, were pressed and he was exuberant when he saw Daisy. Claiming to be a long-lost neighbor of hers, he captured her heart easily. Mike had eyed him warily and kept him at arm's length. Jess had insisted, in the privacy of the barn, that he was up to no good and he himself felt his skin crawl when Walter had first shook his hand. Daisy was falling for Walter's charms faster than a snowball down a hill and Slim knew, in his heart, that all of them were in for a bumpy ride.
Chapter 2 ~ 3 months earlier
"Dadgum!" Jess threw his hands in the air. "How do you expect me to choose?" His eyes glazed over in dismay. The table was stacked full of apple pies. Each pie had a piece of paper with a number on it.
"Jess, dear," Daisy pleaded in her most motherly tone, " you love my apple pie. Each one is slightly different than the other. Just pick the one you like best."
Jess grimaced and then stuck his fork in the one in the first row. Chewing thoughtfully, he proclaimed, "this one!"
Slim, who had just entered the house grinned at his Pard's predicament. "Jess, you have to taste all of them," he smirked.
"Easy for you to say," grumbled Jess. A thought came to him and he plastered his most innocent look on his face. " Daisy, why don't you let Slim be your taste tester for the pies and I'll take on the biscuits. "
Daisy shook her head in frustration. "Boys, when I agreed to enter the baking contest, you both told me you'd do anything to help. And Jess, Slim already tasted the biscuits this morning while you went to town."
Jess pursed his lips and grabbed his fork, waving it around. "Aw gee, Daisy," he tried one final plea," I'll get fat!"
Both Slim and Daisy began to laugh heartily. Slim had to sit down as he was laughing so hard. Daisy just stood in front of Jess and he caught her eye. He gave up and reached for the second pie plate. He wished that he had never seen the notice tacked on Benson's wall.
The Baking Contest was open to any woman or man, for that matter, who could bake a meal. The meals would be judged locally by a committee of the town's finest citizens and then the winners would compete against the winner in St Louis. The prize would be $500 and an article about them and their meals would be published in the new women's magazine. Daisy had already made her beef stew and biscuits and the only thing left was her famous apple pie. Jess finally ate his last slice and made his choice of the delicious treat. The meal would soon be on its way to town to be judged and both Slim and Jess were mightily happy about it. While they hoped Daisy won, they found themselves rather giddy that all the food was on the stove ready for them to consume.
It was no surprise to the inhabitants of the Sherman -Harper ranch that the winner of the baking contest for Laramie was their own Daisy. She had blushed prettily when the committee gave her the medal. The Laramie Gazette even printed an article about her. The committee members from Cheyenne, Sheridan, Medicine Bow and as far away as Burlington all weighed in and in a few short weeks Daisy's meal was proclaimed Wyoming's winner. The next weeks went by in a blur as more and more committee members from different states traveled to Laramie to taste her meal and each one declared that her pie was a winner.
Daisy was so far behind in her household chores and she desperately wanted to stop baking. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out why she hated baking now. Finally, Jess and Slim sat her down with a glass of sherry and reminded her of her value to them and that if she wanted to stop with the contest demands she could. Her health and happiness meant more to them than any award she richly deserved.
Finally, when Mr. Samuel Cox, the editor of the Godey's Ladies Book, called on Daisy and presented her with the money and the pre- printed article, the adventure came to a close. At least they thought so until the dynamic Mr. Walter Cummings came to call.
It was raining hard the day Mr. Cummings arrived via stage. He immediately insisted that he'd come to pay his respects to the Baking Contest Winner. He had read about her delicious pie while traveling on a river boat and just had to meet her and see if she remembered him. He claimed that they had been neighbors back east. When pressed, Daisy admitted to her boys that she scarcely rembered Mr. Cummings but would extend him "all the courtesy of the west", as she put it.
Walter, as he preferred to be called, was soon stopping by every other day with flowers, offers of trips to town and for all intensive purposes, began courting her.
Chapter 3 ~ The plot thickens
One day, while working on the forge, Slim watched Mike as he walked slowly across the yard. He was struck by the fact that the normally energetic boy was crying and trying in vain to hide his feelings.
"Hey, Mike," Slim called out to their son. "I need your help for a minute. " He didn't want to embarrass him in front of Walter who was in the house but he also knew that if Mike was crying something was seriously wrong. He wished that Jess was home, but his Pard was fence mending and miles away.
"What do you need?" Mike asked, his voice shaky.
Slim sunk the tool he'd been shaping into the water basin and removed his gloves. He motioned for Mike to come into the barn. They seldom closed the door but he decided that they needed privacy for this needed conversation.
"What's got you so upset, Mike?"
Mike lifted his teary blue eyes upward and sighed. "Slim, I just heard Mr. Cummings tell Aunt Daisy that he had come to an agreement with the bank in California and they could get married now. I don't want to lose Aunt Daisy!" he sobbed.
"What!" Slim felt his knees give out and he fell onto a bale of hay. " Mike, you must be mistaken; Daisy hasn't said anything to us about getting married! "
Mike fumbled with his hat. Looking up at his guardian- father he reiterated what he had heard.
"I wasn't listening on purpose, Slim." He assured him. "I was just going by my room. Mr. Cummings was saying something about needing more money to set up the store and get the hats and Aunt Daisy was very upset."
"Whoa, Tiger," Slim pulled Mike onto his lap. "Let's start from the beginning."
As Slim listened to Mike's tale, he couldn't help but feel that some of what Mike was telling him were things he had thought about too.
"Slim," Mike asked finally, "If Mr. Cummings has a great big ranch and a store already why does he need more money?"
Slim shook his head. "I don't know Mike. Maybe he's not selling it or he's giving it to relatives."
"But Slim," Mike interrupted, " Why ask Aunt Daisy for money? I mean if he loves her, he wouldn't ask, right?"
Slim shook his head. He still couldn't figure out why Daisy never told them about Walter's proposal.
"There's one other thing that's bothering me, Slim. I thought that Mr. Cox, the editor guy, I thought he said that the magazine was only published in Pennsylvania and that the contest was being held in ST Louis because of his boss. If the magazine was read by ladies in Pennsylvania how did Mr. Cummings read it on a river boat?"
Slim waited until Jess got home that night before he confronted Daisy. She admitted that Walter had proposed but she had not yet accepted.
"I don't know why, boys, but I don't trust him completely. I also don't remember him at all. He claims to have this big house and a store in ST Louis but needs money to go to California. He says he's seen the property he wants to buy and that the store will be next to a diner. He knows I've always wanted to sell ladies hats and so he says I should finally have my dream come true. But," she lifted teary eyes to them both," I would be so far away from our family. I'm not sure I even want to have a store. It's a lot of work and after all the work and standing on my feet all day baking, I'm not sure I want to wait on ladies all day either. "
Jess was highly agitated and slammed his coffee cup up on the table. "'No one messed with his Daisy!' he fumed.
Slim eyed their surrogate Mother. "Do you love him?" he asked quietly.
Daisy shook her head. " Not in the way he wants. I loved my husband very much, you know that," she paused. " It all sounds so exciting but everything is moving too fast. Oh, what am I going to do?" she wailed.
"One thing you are not going to do, Daisy," Slim put both hands on her shaking shoulders, " is get married if you're not ready. And," he looked to Jess for confirmation, " you're not to give him any money. You tell him that your reward money has been spent already. It went into the ranch improvements. I know it hasn't yet, but Mr. Botkin can't tell him different as it's against the law. If Walter needs money, he can ask us, not that we're giving him any either! "
Chapter 4 ~ The mystery deepens
The mood on the porch that night was solemn and silent. Each man was caught up in the intrigue of "the Walter affair" as they had secretly called it. Suddenly Jess exploded into a stream of unconnected words.
" Dadgumit! Slim, you and I are so stupid! It would have been so easy; he could have just told us; why he would know straight off; something's not right… " When he paused for breath, Slim unwound himself from his chair.
"Are you done?"
Sheepishly, Jess nodded.
"Good!" Slim grabbed Jess' shoulders and squeezing hard swung his partner around to face him. "You're talking faster than I can think! Now, what's the matter?"
Jess' shoulders quivered under Slim's palms and he fought for control. He took several deep breaths and Slim let go of him. "Andy is the answer," he gasped.
Slim struggled to understand. " The answer to what exactly?"
"Pard, Andy lives in ST Louis and he'd know if there was a large ranch and store owned by Walter Cummings. I bet he's gone in the store a time or two. But," and he pointed his finger into Slim's chest, " if there is no ranch or store, he has to send a telegram to Mort."
The light of understanding gleamed in Slim's eyes along with something akin to admiration. "Why didn't I think about Andy?" he asked aloud.
"It doesn't really matter who thought about it," Jess remarked. "It only matters what the truth is. One thing is certain, no one on this ranch is giving one red cent to Walter, if that's even his name," he added darkly.
Several days passed. One brisk morning, Mose drove into the yard with a message for Slim and Jess from Mort. "Come see me."
Not willing to involve Daisy or alarm Mike, they decided to drive Mike to school the next day and pick up some supplies. A perfectly innocent endeavor. However, one of their main stops was the jail house.
"Boys," greeted Mort," hope you are both well."
Jess grinned," got any coffee?" he inquired.
Mort waited until both men had their hands wrapped around cups of their favorite hot beverage before he pulled several papers from his desk.
""First of all, I received a telegram from Andy." He pulled the telegram out of the pile of papers and began to read. " A. Sherman, MD. ST Louis Missouri. Stop. W.C. not resident of SL Stop. No store. Stop. Contact sheriff for warrants. Best to S and J. Andy. Stop"
Mort waited for a long minute. He knew an explosion was coming but he was not sure which one of the partners was going to shoot a hole in the ceiling first. Presently, he looked at both men and caught, out of the corner of his eye, the silent conversation they were having. He had been privileged to see the bond in action a few times and he often felt uneasy as if the relationship they shared was so special that no one dare interrupt them.
"Andy mentioned warrants, Mort. Got any of them?" Slim asked slowly.
"As a matter of fact, I do. I sent a few telegrams of my own and although Mr. Cummings is not wanted now, he was in the past; been found guilty of stealing property deeds and selling them again to unsuspecting people for exorbitant money amounts.
He also was wanted for cheating on a river boat. Couple of people lost money in poker games. He's not a violent man but he is ruthless and he's a thief and a liar. I also found out that the editor of that magazine has a branch in ST Louis. You might want to send him a letter and inquire if any copies of the magazine were sent to a river boat."
"Now what do we do?" The two friends looked at each other. Both were furious at Walter.
"Give me five minutes in the barn and I'll show him some of the "courtesy of the west" gunslinger style!" Jess was wound tighter than a spring.
Slim grinned but only slapped his hand onto Jess' shoulders and steered him towards Benson's. "We have to pick up those supplies, Pard. Then we'll figure it out."
The matter of Walter was solved, in a way, when they got home. Daisy met them at the door. Her tear- stained face spoke volumes. ""We had some trouble, boys," she bravely said.
"Walter trouble? " Jess growled.
Daisy nodded as she wiped her face. Slim pivoted and started eye-searching the yard they had just entered. "Where is he hiding," his voice rose an octave higher.
"He rode away. I told him to go and not come back until he was ready to apologize to Mike and answer to you both."
"Mike? What's Mike got to do with this?"
Chapter 5~ The decision
Daisy suddenly swayed and Slim, being closer, held out his arms to catch her petite body. She shivered violently against him. Thoroughly alarmed, he led her to Jess' rocker and set her down. His silent plea was answered when Jess walked quickly into their shared bedroom and came out again with a small bottle.
He held it out to her. " Small sips," he said soothingly. "It's called brandy."
After a few minutes, Daisy sat up, A determined expression on her face. "Let me up," she ordered.
Slim shook his head. " Not until you tell us what happened. "
She sighed, pursed her lips together and began to share what happened. She shivered again as she rembered Mike's scream. " I was in the kitchen making dinner." She began.
Jess sat down on the sofa under the window, keeping a steady eye on her.
"I asked Mike to set the table," Daisy continued, her voice stronger. " All at once, I heard Walter curse and start yelling about Mike trying to steal his things and then I heard Mike screaming in pain. As I ran to him, I saw Walter trying to beat him with his belt. The belt was hitting Mike's legs and Walter was yelling and trying to get Mike's pants off. I ran towards Mike and grabbed him from behind and started pulling his squirming body away from Walter. As I held Mike in my arms, Walter turned into a wild man. He was screaming at me telling me that I was bringing up a thief, that Mike should go back where he came from, that his belongings were private. I just kept backing up until I could get Mike within easy distance of his room. I whispered in his ear to go in and lock the door. I then took Walter's belt and hat and threw them at him and ordered him off the property. I told him to go and not return until he apologized to Mike and the two of you."
Slim was too numb to speak. He thought back to the days before Daisy had arrived. Both he and Jess had promised each other that they would never hit Mike. His punishments would be fair and suit the crime. They both doubted that the boy would give them a lick of trouble. He may have tried their patience a time or two but they had never felt the need to dust his backside. He turned to look at Jess. His partner was fighting to keep control of himself.
"Jess," Slim called to him, " why don't you go to Mike?" he knew that the two shared a special bond and that if Jess were to take care of Mike, he wouldn't be shooting Walter, at least for the time being.
Jess thought that Mike was sleeping when he entered the boy's bedroom, as he was curled up in a ball at the far side of his bed. But when he sat down, Mike flung himself into his arms and began to cry. Jess just held him, drawing soothing circles on his back, like he'd seen Slim do with Andy a long time ago. Presently, Mike struggled to sit up, wiping his nose and tear- stained cheeks against his sleeve.
"Are you hurt Mike?" Jess was surprised that his voice even worked.
Mike shook his head. "Good thing I forgot to take my chaps off," he smiled at his father.
For months, Mike had pestered them to buy him a pair of chaps. For some reason, he thought they were the best things and so finally that had relented and bought him a pair for Christmas. He wore them everywhere. If he had taken then off today, he might have suffered some serious cuts Jess realized.
"How about we take them off along with your jeans and wash you up? I think we still have some of that salve that Slim used on me when I got cut last spring."
Mike nodded and after retrieving a bowl of water and the salve, Jess set to work. There were marks on the soft leather but only bruising on Mike's legs and as he washed and cleaned his son's injuries, they talked about what had happened.
"What did you see in Walter's bag, Mike?" Jess asked curiously.
"I saw a paper with Mr. Jenkins' name on it and lots of money." He paused for a moment, "Jess, why do you think he got so mad?"
Jess shook his head. "I have no idea, Mike. But he shouldn't have taken out his anger on you. We know you'd never steal anything, " he assured Mike.
On his way out, he again asked if Mike wanted anything to eat and then assured his son that he was safe and Walter would never be allowed near him again.
"One of us has to go, Slim and it might as well be me," Jess insisted later. They were in the barn with the door closed against the spring chill. "If I stay, he might die earlier than is needed," he added darkly.
"Yeah, you're right, Pard,"Slim agreed. "But stay in touch. Send us a telegram when you get there."
"That was thirty-five days ago, " muttered Slim as he again searched the horizon for his wayward Pard.
Chapter 6 ~ Oblivion
Jess spread out his bed roll on the dusty cave floor. He was so tired of being wet and cold. It had been raining for five days now, making his trek even harder. Everything was wet , his hat, his slicker, his boots, his gloves. He had one dry towel to wipe down Traveler. He dug out a can of peaches and made a small fire. The warm water felt good against his skin and he drank his coffee in one gulp. He shivered. Traveler snorted and Jess drew him closer to the fire. He had been in worse places, he thought to himself. He began to drift in and out of sleep and then finally gave up, wrapping himself in the blanket and gazed into the fire wishing for the tenth time today that he was home in front of their fireplace, with Mike at his feet and Slim on the chair beside him. "I hope I find the answer to Walter tomorrow,' he thought as he drifted to sleep.
He was freezing cold when he woke in the dark cave. For a few minutes he just lay there, trying to get his bearings. He was cold and his head ached. His nose was running and his chest hurt to breathe. 'Great, what else can go wrong!' he thought. He tried to clear his head but gave up as the cave walls seemed to close in around him.
Much later, he thought he saw Slim sitting by him but when he reached for his Pard, his grasp came away empty. He longed for Daisy's gentle hand on his forehead. He knew that she loved him, sometimes beyond Slim. It used to bother him, feelin that Slim was much more worthy of her considerations as he was older and the legal owner of the ranch. He never told her, but he knew he was her favorite and now, in his fevered state, called out for his second Mother only to be met with the whining of his horse.
When he woke again, the sun was shining and the rain had stopped. He was still hot so he reckoned he had a fever. His nose was stuffed tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey and his ribs hurt. Worst of all was a hacking cough that nearly bent him in half. As much as he hated the thought, he needed to find a doctor. Slower than molasses sliding downhill, he gathered his belongings and with one last look at his temporary home in the rocks, led Traveler out towards his destination. With a last ditch effort, he mounted and begged his faithful companion to take them to a town.
He thought he heard voices above him. He felt gentle hands bathing his hot skin. "There, there, you'll be alright," the sweet, gentle voice whispered in his ear. He tried to rise, but was held down by someone with a firm grip on his shoulders.
"Slim?" he cried out," lemme up!"
"Rest easy son, you need to rest," the gentle voice said again and Jess sunk down into oblivion.
He thought he heard Mike whisper in his ear that he missed him but when he turned his head to respond there was nothing there. He lost his train of thought and closed his eyes and shut down his hearing. He felt weaker than a newborn colt and his muscles refused to move. "Slim!" he called out in desperation.
"Shh, he's coming. You need to rest now," the gentle lady answered him.
"Daisy?" Her voice was different but then maybe his ears were plugged too.
"Daisy isn't here," the voice continued, " she sent me instead. You have to lie still."
Jess tried to rise up but was pushed down again. "Slim, help me!" he gasped and passed out.
"Who do you suppose Slim is?" Kate Bennett asked her doctor husband.
Jeremiah Bennett, MD of ST Joseph Missouri shook his head. The young man with the sweat- soaked dark hair had fallen onto his doorstep three nights ago, sick with fever. They had stripped him and bathed him and were trying to control his fever. Lung Fever was a near thing and the young man was quite ill. He lay quiet during the day, almost as still as a stone but night time played havoc with his otherwise battered body. The night sweats and nightmares were difficult to watch and they were having a toll on both patient and physician.
Jess knew nothing of this. All he knew was that wherever he was, Slim had not come and Daisy, his gentle mother was not at his side. He was totally alone and defenseless against the stampede, fire, gun shots, freezing cold, saloon fights, someone scaring a young blonde haired boy and a tall man with sandy hair that kept trying to hold him down.
"Did you look in his pockets?" Jeremiah asked his wife.
Kate shook her head in response and then walked over to the chair that held the man's belongings. She gasped as she pulled out a paper. "He is on his way to ST Louis," she read the paper. "It has a doctor's name – Dr. Andrew Sherman! Jeremiah, you must telegraph him. Maybe he can help identify this man!"
Chapter 7 ~ Andy
Andy Sherman hung his stethoscope around his neck and stood up, stretching his cramped arms and shook his head. He looked over at Dr. Bennett.
"I agree with your diagnosis, doctor, " he said. "He's on the verge of Lung Fever but he hasn't turned that corner yet, due to your caring of him. He's an otherwise strong and healthy man and probably will recover, if you can manage to keep him in bed. He's a notoriously bad patient in that he refuses to stay put. "
"Seems like you know him fairly well," Kate Bennett stated, as she closed the bedroom door.
"I'm glad to help," Andy smiled as he gratefully accepted the coffee cup she offered him. "He's part of my family and my big brother's best friend and partner in the ranch they own in Laramie."
"That's a ways from here," Jeremiah acknowledged. "Do you have any idea why he's here?"
"As a matter of fact I do. I was expecting him to appear on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago but lo and behold he met you instead! He's trailing a man."
He saw the silent alarm in Kate's pointed look at her husband and spoke quickly to clear Jess of any thought they might have of his friend's life.
"I received a letter over a month ago from my brother about a man by the name of Walter Cummings who claimed to have a ranch and business in ST Louis. He had spent a considerable amount of time wooing their second Ma, Daisy who used to be a nurse during the war.
Back about five years ago, Slim and Jess hired Daisy to be their housekeeper because they were trying to adopt an orphan boy. Daisy soon became their second Ma. I've met her and she's every bit the warm, loving second Ma they described to me. Anyway, they want to be sure that Mr. Cummings is an upright citizen but I looked into the matter and there is no ranch or store and no one has ever heard of Mr. Cummings. When I checked with the Marshal, he told me that a Mr. Walter P. Cummings was a fugitive and wanted by the law. He had escaped from prison after serving only three years of a twenty year prison sentence. I wired Slim and he wrote back that Jess was riding to ST Louis. Now he's here."
Andy was just finishing his coffee when they heard a guttural scream coming from the bedroom. Simultaneously, both doctors rose to their feet. They walked swiftly to the room, with Andy a few steps ahead. "Let me try," he whispered.
Jeremiah agreed reluctantly. This was his patient after all. But he said nothing and decided to watch the young doctor. Jess' blankets were in a tangled mess on the floor and the agitated man was struggling with his sheets. His eyes were glassy and his harsh breaths and hacking cough were taking a toll on him. Jeremiah watched in amazement as Andy stood a few feet from Jess.
"Jess, what do you need?" he called to him.
The sick man stopped thrashing for a minute and blinked. He turned to look at the speaker but both men knew instantly that he really wasn't conscious. He had that empty look in his eyes.
Andy walked over and laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly as if speaking to a child. " Jess, you're sick. You need to get under the blankets. I know it's cold in your room but I'll wake up Slim and have him start a fire. How would that be?"
Again, the glassy, unfocused eyes searched out the speaker. He had calmed down considerably. Andy held him in his arms and brushed the curly sweaty soaked locks from his forehead.
"You'll be okay, Jess. I've got you. When you're well, we'll go home to the ranch."
While Andy held Jess, Jeremiah and Kate made the bed again and after laying Jess down again and tucking the blankets around him left the room.
"How did you do that?" Kate asked in amazement.
Andy smiled. " I took a course while in school where the professor spoke to us about the unconscious mind. He said that oftentimes a man could be persuaded to do something while unconscious if he heard a person in his life give him directions. So I figured that Jess might still remember my voice. In any case, I thought if I talked about Slim it would calm him down, and it did."
"Did you mean what you told him about taking him home?" Jeremiah asked. "You and I both know that his recovery could takes weeks and you have a practice, don't you?"
Andy affirmed Jeremiah's statement and then added his prediction. " While we both know that he won't be ready to travel in a day or two, you'd be amazed how fast that man heals when he thinks of home. I'm willing to stick around and help in any way I can. I haven't been home in awhile and my brother needs us both."
Chapter 8 ~ Brothers and Mothers
Andy's prediction was nearly right on target when Jess' fever broke two days later. He had the appetite of a ravenous wolf and he was getting his strength back. His voice was still raspy, not the gruff drawl that Andy loved but Jess was definitely on the road to recovery. He spent as much time as he could with his old friend and they shared many laughs as they shared memories of Jonesy and the fishing trips, snowball fights, and pranks they had pulled. When Slim's letter arrived, Jess almost jumped for joy and he listened to Andy read the heartfelt messages from their family. The only thing that marred the occasion was the news about Walter.
"I don't understand how Slim can be so patient! He should have run him off days ago!" Jess grumbled. He was sitting up in bed with the blanket up to his chin. Andy, perched on a chair beside him, just grinned as the thought of his brother chasing off the illusive Mr. Cummings.
"Well, why don't I read the rest of this letter, Jess? Maybe the answer is further down the page."
Jess reluctantly agreed and sank back against the pillows. It felt good to finally breathe again without coughing and food was beginning to taste good again. He looked forward to steak and eggs soon.
"Dear Andy and Jess,
I can't tell you how glad we were that the two of you were together but so distressed to hear of your illness, Jess. Daisy asked me to remind you to cover your nose and mouth when you go outside. She said that the cold air could trigger coughs. She's your Mother Hen even when you're not here! But what would we do without her? Anyway, we are all fine.
We had a big storm blow by a week or so ago. Lots of wind and heavy rain. Thanks to you and your skills, we didn't loose any fences. No livestock are missing either. One of Mike's shutters blew off the house. We looked for it but couldn't find it so we're going to make a new one. Mike insists that he help so I'm going to let him. We always did say that he was getting older and should shoulder some responsibility.
Daisy is still single. After you left, Walter came by and apologized to Mike and me and Daisy. He's been trying to get in her good graces ever since but she told him that she wouldn't make any decision until you came home. So my advice to you both is to go to Mort's office first and then all three of you come to the ranch.
Mike can't wait to see you and has told me to tell you to hurry up and get well. Daisy echoes the same and well, I do too. Come home soon, Pard and bring my best brother with you.
Slim."
Jess lay back and grinned at Andy. "He writes like he talks, doesn't he?"
"Yeah," Andy answered. " He wrote me all the time when I was in school. I could almost feel the fire at my back and the rough wool tufts of our rug beneath my cheeks. Despite all the trouble I gave him when I was growing up, he never once gave up on me."
"Cause he loves you Andy. He's very proud of what you are doing. You made your dream come true."
This time, Andy nodded. " Did I ever tell you about the rain storm we had before Jonesy came?"
Jess shook his head. "Nope. I thought Jonesy came to the ranch before Slim."
"No, Slim sent for him before Ma died when he realized how much work was needed. I was twelve and beginning to feel my oats but in truth I was still a young boy. Anyway, the brother who left for the war when I was eight was a different man when he returned home. Pa was dead and Ma soon followed and we were alone. Slim tried to be Mother and Father and Brother but he was failing and I wasn't helping him any as I often resented his rules.
Anyway, one night we had a rain storm. Thunder, lighting, rain pelting the house. It felt like cannon fire. I was so scared. I ran into Slim's bedroom and asked him if I could climb into bed with him. He said yes and immediately put both of his long arms around me. I never felt so loved or safe in all my days."
Andy stopped to wipe his eyes against his sleeve and Jess saw the tears falling down his friend's face.
"He told me that he was sorry for hurting me and that he'd sent for Jonesy to help out. He knew I was lonely and that my pets weren't always going to keep me company. He told me that eventually I would grow up and want to leave the ranch and as much as he wanted me to stay, like our father thought I would, he sometimes felt that ranch work wasn't what I was cut out to do, but that decision was mine to make."
"So even though he fought for you to stay, he knew you probably wouldn't?"
"Yeah. Turned out, he promised Ma that he'd see to my getting more education because she always felt that I was destined for other things."
Jess gasped and he fixed his deep blue eyes on Andy. "You mean to tell me that he gave up his dream for you; saved money all that time so you could leave him?"
"Yeah, some big brother, uh?"
Jess had no words so he just held out his arms to his friend and Andy fell against the strong, muscled shoulders and thanked God for brothers.
Chapter 9 ~ Puzzle Pieces
When Andy went to wake Jess the next morning, he found him upright in bed, scribbling madly on a long piece of paper. "Good morning! Whatcha doing, Jess?"
Jess looked up and twirled the pencil as he greeted Andy. " I'm putting pieces of the mystery together. You remember how your brother always looks at problems two different ways and then acts? "
Without waiting for an answer, Jess continued. " Well, I wrote down all the things we know about Walter, things he said or things that happened. Like he said he read the magazine on a river boat or the store he owned in ST Louis." He paused for breath.
Andy pulled up a chair beside the bed. "What's this?" he looked at the second list on the paper.
"That's all the things that are the lies and that final list is all the things that are the truth."
"Not much truth to anything he said is there?" Andy observed.
Jess was writing again. He looked up at his friend.
" There's two things that puzzle me. One, how did he know about Daisy winning the contest if the magazine was published in Pennsylvania and he said he read it on a river boat? And two, is there a store in San Francisco? 'Cause there sure ain't one in ST Louis!"
Andy studied the paper. He picked up the paper and ran his finger down the listed items. "Jess, I know someone who can help," he said thoughtfully.
"Who?"
"Me!" Andy chortled.
Jess shook his head. " You've done too much already, Andy. No, it's my job to finish this."
Andy stood up, hand on his hips and in his stern doctor voice, pointed a finger into Jess' chest.
"You're not well enough, Jess. Besides, I have to go back. I need more clothes; I have to get more instruments; I need to close up my side of the practice, for awhile. Heck, I can stop by the publisher's office and leave a message for Mr. Cox or even talk to his boss." Breathless but quivering with excitement, Andy stopped talking.
Jess marveled at Andy's exuberance and looked down at the crumbled piece of paper. He seemed deep in thought, but a small smile played around his lips. "Okay, Andy. The job is yours. But you come back here in one piece, " he admonished.
Ten slow days passed. Jess tried to take his mind off Andy and his family by rolling pills and cleaning the surgery for Jeremiah Bennett and helping Mrs. Bennett with household chores. He was thankful that Daisy had taught him how to bake bread as Mrs. Bennett was not a good cook. One morning he opened the office door to a young man, scarcely older than himself, who inquired after the doctor.
"He's out on calls," Jess told the man," You're welcome to wait or you can come back," he said.
The man appeared embarrassed. He pursed his lips and played with his felt covered hat. "Actually, " the man said, "I'm looking for Jess Harper."
Jess immediately tensed and his hand traveled instinctively down his side for his gun. Realizing that it wasn't strapped to his side, he got ready to pounce.
"Who's askin'," he growled.
The man smiled then, unnerving Jess further.
"Oh, I'm very sorry," he murmured apologetically, " my name is Bill Johnson. I'm here on behalf of Mr. Samuel Cox. "
'Where did I hear that name before?' Jess muttered to himself. The only people who knew who he was were the Bennett 's and Andy. Suddenly, he remembered Samuel Cox and light began dawning.
"I remember Samuel Cox," Jess said slowly, " you work for him?"
"Actually, we both work for the Godey's Ladies Book. Your friend, Andy Sherman told me about your dilemma and I decided to come here to explain everything about the magazine."
By the time Andy and Jeremiah Bennett joined them, Jess had found out that one of the missing puzzle pieces was another lie. The winners of the baking contest had been given a copy of the magazine for free and a woman baking near a stove was on the cover not the cover that Walter had described. The other issues were printed in Philadelphia but were sold by subscription only.
"He never read it on a river boat!" Andy exclaimed.
"Nope" said Jess, "and there's one last piece, shall I tell him or do you want to?" he nodded to Bill Johnson.
"Oh, it's your story," the editor told them.
"Bill sent a telegram to his friend in San Francisco. The empty store next to the diner is not for sale. The owner of the saloon is going to buy the diner and combine both buildings into a large parlor for ladies to enjoy tea and desserts while they wait for their husbands or men folk. And," Jess paused for dramatic effect," you'll never guess who the other owner is!"
Andy blanched and stammered, "Walter?" he thought he was going to faint from excitement.
Chapter 10 ~ Don't play the piano just yet
After Bill Johnson left and dinner was over, Andy sat with Jess by the dying fire. They were both elated that the mystery of Walter Cummings had been solved but they still faced several hurdles. One, they still had to keep Daisy from marrying Walter Cummings and two, they had to get home. Jess was, for all intensive purposes, well enough to travel. He was beginning to ache with home sickness and a bit fearful that Slim would be cross as he'd been away for so long.
"Jess, I've got to send a telegram to Slim!" announced Andy.
"Yeah," grunted Jess. He was half paying attention, lost in a sea of longing.
Andy smiled. "I'll take care of it in the morning while you pack."
"Uh?" Jess turned towards Andy. " What did you just say?"
Andy grinned. "I knew if I said 'pack' you'd stop feeling sorry for yourself." His grin stretched from one side of his face to the other. "I'm going to send a telegram to Slim," he stood and reached for the pencil and paper on the table," I'm going to write that there is no store in SF, that I was heading home with a Texan surprise, and that he shouldn't play the piano just yet."
"What do you mean by that? " Jess demanded.
"The piano playing?"
Jess frowned and nodded 'yes' and Andy closed his eyes as he remembered.
"Back when it was just Slim and me and Jonesy, there was a very long drought. A lot of people pulled up stakes and left. Some ranchers lost their stock. Ours were in the north pasture and relatively safe. Anyway, one of those rain makers came to town. He actually convinced many that he could bring water by waving a stick on the ground. I followed him as he went around our ranch. Well, one day it began to rain. Everyone was very happy but not Slim. I couldn't figure out why. He only said to Jonesy,
" Don't play the piano just yet."
Well, anyway, it wouldn't stop raining and soon we were worried about a flood. The lake was overflowing and Slim was worried that our cattle would drown. On the fifth day, the sun came out and the water dried up. "Now," he said to Jonesy,
"Now, you can play the piano in celebration!" After that, whenever we had a situation like that we told each other not to play the piano. I know if Walter were to see the telegram, he'd start thinking of when we'd arrive and start pushing Daisy to accept his proposal and plan the wedding for when we came home. But he'll never understand our code but Slim will and know that we will be bringing bad news about Walter and continue guarding Daisy."
Chapter 11~ 128 Days
While Andy went to town the next morning to send his telegram, Jess packed and tried to plan their escape from St Joseph. While he didn't seriously believed that Walter had a gang ready to ambush them on the way home, they still needed to find a way to get there in one piece and as quickly as possible. Every solution he came up with was fraught with danger. The gang, if there was one, would be expecting two men traveling alone. They could take a train just so far. Stage coaches could be stopped and ambushes planned. Finally he gave up as he felt a headache coming on.
"Jess, are you dressed? " Andy called to him from the sitting room.
"Yeah," Jess slowly walked down the stairs and met Andy who was flanked by two very pretty young women. Thoroughly confused and yet strangely excited, Jess stood stopped in his tracks.
"Meet Sue Franklin and Becky Thompson, they're going to be traveling with us!"
"Uh?" Jess mumbled, " can I see you in the kitchen?"
A minute or so later, Jess twirled Andy around to face him. *Who are they and why did you tell two strangers about our travel problems? "
Andy smirked, angering Jess every more.
"Jess, I met Sue and Becky as I was coming out of the Telegraph Office. And before you start shooting, listen up. They're related to the sheriff. In fact they're his sisters. They're traveling to Denver to start an Indian school and missed the wagon train. So they won't be with us all the way just until we leave them at Fort Laramie." Andy fairly shook with excitement. He believed he had solved everyone's problems. " Look, Jess," he lowered his voice even more, " they need an escort and we need a cover. If there are any gang members they won't be expecting two men and two ladies riding a train. We'll be hiding in plain sight."
As much as Jess feared the outcome of the four of them traveling together, he found the idea intriguing. As it turned out, the women proved to be quite capable of keeping up with them and were delightful companions. The time flew by and one morning they found themselves within reach of the fort.
"We'll miss you both," Becky told Jess as she demurely hugged him. Jess planted a chaste kiss on her forehead and did the same with Sue. "Travel safe," Sue told Andy as they parted company.
When they reached the outskirts of Laramie, Jess sighed. "Almost home, " he whispered to Andy who just smiled at him.
"You forget, Jess," he said, " I haven't been in Laramie for awhile."
Mort Corey greeted the wayward travelers with exuberance. The smile he gave Jess was so warm, Jess felt himself getting hot. 'He must have really missed me,' he realized.
They shared some of their adventures and caught up with the happenings of the town. Mort explained that Walter Cummings had disappeared for a month but then returned with more determination than ever. " Slim is having difficulty keeping him at arm's length," he told them.
"How do you want to play this?" Jess asked.
"Well, you both could get a bath and a shave and spend the night at the hotel or we could round up some deputies and head out to the ranch, say in an hour."
There was no hesitation in Jess' voice. "Let's go home," was all he said.
The sun was dipping to meet the horizon and Slim stopped to gaze at the hills above the ranch. He had always liked sunsets. Daisy called them "God's paintings" and if that were so, then tonight was certainly going to be beautiful. Behind him, Mike was setting the table, carefully avoiding Walter Cummings who was seated in his usual spot near the kitchen. He said he liked to see "his Daisy cooking."
Slim continued standing in the doorway, eyes trained on the rise above the ranch. He'd had a strange premonition that Jess and Andy would be coming home this week and could almost feel Andy's embrace and Jess' hand on his shoulder. It was getting harder and harder to keep Walter in sight. He had developed a deep intense hatred of the man. He always felt dirty when he was around him.
The calendar mark read 128 days. Suddenly, the clouds lifted and there on the slope riding down were the figures of three men. Slim's heart beat a bit faster. The figures came closer. Slim's smile grew wider.
"Daisy! Mike! Guess who's home!" he forgot all about Walter and ran towards the riders. He nodded briefly at Mort and then Andy, laughing and crying, fell into his arms. The brothers hugged for a long minute. " I did my best to keep him safe," whispered Andy to Slim.
Daisy and Mike reached Jess almost simultaneously. Daisy wrapped her arms around Jess. "Welcome home," she sobbed.
"Oh, Daisy, it's good to be back." Daisy heard the relief in his voice and she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You're home now, she said sweetly. Then she grew still. Jess glanced down at her.
"Daisy?" he questioned.
"I won't forget what you did for me, Jess. You and Slim both saved me. I love you, you know."
Jess felt his heart grow larger, if that was even possible. "I'm proud to call you my second Ma," he whispered in her ear.
Mike was clamoring for a hug and so he reluctantly let her go and scooped the young boy into his arms, just in time to see Mort escort Walter to his horse. Walter's hands were tied and he was scowling and cursing. Mort was determined to let the family reunion continue, without the man who had nearly broken it in half.
"Jess," Slim's hand on his arm was firm and his welcoming smile was wide. "Welcome Home, Pard."
Chapter 12 ~ Three months later
The early morning autumn sun beamed through the frosty window pane creating a rainbow on top of the mound of blankets that covered Slim's body. He stirred and then poked his head out of his warm nest. Jess' bed was empty. His blankets were on the floor and his sheets were in a tangled mess. Slim sighed deeply. ' I must have been more tired than usual' he thought to himself. He usually heard Jess if he got up or had a dream. But he had arrived home later than usual the night before and had slipped into bed without disturbing his Pard.
It had been a strenuous trip trailing horses to the fort and back. It had been worth it though. He couldn't wait to share his news with Jess. He got up, finger combed his hair and splashed some water on his face and went to find his missing Pard. Upon a quick inspection, he determined that both Andy and Daisy were still asleep. Mike was at Mort's, and Jess was not in the house. Frowning, he shrugged on his jacket, grabbed his hat and put on his gun belt. He noted that all of Jess' gear was gone from its peg.
Slim moved quietly around the yard looking for anything suspicious. All was quiet. At last, he swung open the barn door and was met with the familiar odor of horse flesh and hay. He saw Traveler in his stall and breathed a deep sigh. Jess would never leave the ranch without Traveler. As he turned to go, he suddenly turned and walked back to Traveler's stall and looked down. There was Jess wrapped in a blanket looking so peaceful that a wave of protectiveness washed over Slim. As he continued gazing, Jess turned over and Slim had to stifled a laugh. Hay was sticking at odd angles in Jess' curly black locks.
"Jess, hey Pard, time to wake up!" he called down to him. There was a chill in the air and the last thing Jess needed was another cold.
Jess groaned and his eyes squinted in the morning light. "What's up, Pard? " he yawned.
"I was just about to make some coffee, " Slim murmured, " do you want some? "
Jess rubbed his face and held out his hand for Slim to hoist him upwards.
" Morning to you too!" his drawl was deeper than usual.
"What were you doing in the barn?" Slim asked as he slid an arm over one of Jess' shoulders. He was doing his best to be patient and kind. Two virtues that Daisy said she prized.
"I've been having some dreams, Pard, and I thought it would be best if I slept elsewhere," Jess was clearly embarrassed, so Slim didn't push.
"Well, when you feel ready to share, I'll be listening," Slim said.
Later on the porch, Jess told Slim about his dream. " I was in the cave, all alone and Walter and his cronies were all around holding me down and hitting me. I kept calling for you, but you never came."
"Oh, Jess!" Slim' s compassionate touch sent shivers down Jess' body. His Pard always had the magic touch to make him feel better. " You know he can't hurt anyone anymore. He's been locked up and he's not going anywhere for a long time."
"Yeah, I know that!" he exclaimed more forcefully than he meant to. He wasn't ready to share what else was bothering him but Slim's continued gaze was gonna do him in. He squirmed in his chair.
"Tell me when you're ready," Slim murmured softly and started to rise. He wasn't going to push. He had learned long ago that pushing Jess for an answer was like poking a bear. The results could be disastrous. The bear might kill you and Jess' response, while you might not be maimed but you sure would feel like it.
"Where you going?" Jess asked as Slim tuned toward the door.
"I' m getting cold. Thought I'd,"
Jess swallowed hard and put out a hand to stop him. "Wait," was all he said.
Slim sat back down. " What's bothering you, Jess?" he kept his voice soft and soothing.
"I want to do something for Daisy."
Slim sat back in the chair and stretched out his legs. 'This might take awhile,' he thought to himself.
Jess turned towards him. Everything he had thought of began to spill out of him.
"I know we don't have to, I mean, she already knows how much we care about her, but I want to give her something that'll last. What I was thinkin' on was, oh we can't too much money. Forget I said anything. " he ended miserably.
Slim was intrigued now. "Oh no, you can't just leave me hanging, Pard. What do you want to buy?"
"I want to have a picture taken of us, you know, you and me and Mike and Andy, so she's got a picture of all her boys together and then maybe we can get her in one. That one we could hang above your desk. But the tin types cost $2 each and that's a lot of money so just forget it."
Slim's smile lit up his whole face. "Pard, that's the best idea you've ever had! Of course we've got the money. Let me tell you what happened at the fort!"
Chapter 13 ~ Epilogue
"That was a right fine thing you boys did for Daisy," Mort said as he admired the newest addition to the ranch house.
"It was mostly Jess' idea," Slim acknowledged with a wink at his Pard who was coming in the door.
The festivities were winding down and the guests were departing. And yet, Slim and Jess forgot their manners as they once again admired the picture hanging above Slim's desk.
"She sure did like it," Jess said in awe. He had no idea that his simple gesture would cause his Daisy to break down in tears in front of all their friends.
"She is always telling folks that we're her family and now she 's got pictures of us close to her heart."
"That was all Andy's doin'" Jess insisted.
"Yeah, I know. And a damn fine one too!"
"Hey, did you hear the news?" Andy shouted, as he rushed into the ranch house.
"What?" Both Jess and Slim turned and saw a very excited Andy who was waving a newspaper.
"Walter Cummings' partner in San Francisco was caught with $5000 he stole from a rancher. He's going to jail!"
For once in his life, Jess had no words. Slim was pensive. Andy looked at both men in confusion. "I thought you'd be excited, " he frowned.
"Well, I guess you'd have to say that we figured as much. Walter was a lot of things. A liar. A cheat and not very smart. There had to be someone behind him, pulling his strings. I asked Mort to have the Marshal's check into him. They found most of Walter's money. Turned out they were robbing people of their property. They bought the saloon and the empty store with that money. Walter's plan was to marry Daisy and have her do the cooking for their new parlor. When she kept putting him off, the schedule they were trying to keep kept them from buying up the town. That's why he pushed her so hard," Slim explained.
"When were you gonna tell us?" demanded Jess, who was getting more irate by the second.
"I was going crazy worrying about you and how you were getting home, that I had to think of something to distract me. Mort suggested that I try and figure out why Walter was so upset that Daisy kept putting him off and where did he disappear to. One night it just came to me, that the Marshalls could help. I can't tell you how happy I was that part of the puzzle was solved."
Daisy, who had been listening at the door, came into the room holding the table coverings. Jess leapt to help her.
"I couldn't help but listen just now boys, but I do have to say that you all did your best to keep me safe. And that's all that matters to me. You know, I always tell you that I'm blessed. The truth is, we are all blessed." Mort started to walk away, but Daisy stopped him.
"Mort, you may not have noticed it, but the day you agreed to be Mike's Godfather, you became part of our family too," she gently admonished him.
Mort had the good graces to blush. "Well, I best be going," he told the family that followed him out their front door. As he gathered the reins together, he took a moment to gaze fondly at his friends. 'I wonder if they know how truly blessed they are,' he wondered.
Slim was standing, straight as an arrow, hands on his hips, in his familiar fatherly pose; Andy was slightly behind him. He looked more content than Mort had ever seen him. Daisy, clad in her Sunday Blue dress, looking so happy. Jess, on the end, flanking their second Ma and finally Mike, his godson, so happy in his family. As he mounted, Mort saw Daisy's 'Bookends" share a smile. 'Yup, they knew how blessed they truly were, how together they made each other stronger and that they would go to the ends of the earth to protect their family.'
Author's Notes: I wrote this story in honor of Mother's Day. I hope that all the mothers out there have children who will gladly protect their Mom's from all that may threaten them.
I may be good at a lot of things, but one thing I'm not good is Math. So, if any of you were counting and you discovered that Jess' journey took more than 128 days, please remember that this is fan fic!
As many of you know by now, I like to include historical facts in my stories. The history of ladies magazines is really quite interesting .The Godey's Ladies Book was published in Philadelphia between 1830-1878. Each issue featured poetry, articles and pictures of fashions. Publishing was quite expensive so issues were given out by subscription only. Although there were cookbooks published at the same time, I decided to combine the baking contest in the prominent ladies magazine to promote readership and give Daisy the avenue to showcase her apple pie.
I've never been on a cruise or a ferry but I'm pretty sure that even if I had ridden on a river boat, I wouldn't have taken my ladies book with me. Back in the 1870's ladies showed a lot more decorum than we do today.
Tintype photos in 1870's could range from 25 cents to $2.00 each. What is not mentioned but implied is that Slim received a bonus for getting the horses to the fort early. So there was money to spend.
I have a picture of the cast from Season 3 & 4 standing as described above in a frame on my desk. It was taken from a scene on the show. What better way to showcase all of the actors than to put them front and center in my story.
And lastly, this is addressed to all our Laramie male readers, my Father's Day theme based story will be entitled "The First Time" and will be posted on the Wagon Train "site". Since I started writing, all my stories have the themes of family love, brotherly love and fatherly love, most notably in "Joined at the heart" so a WT story was written.
Hope you enjoyed it. Happy Mother's Day.
MS
.PS: For some strange reason I couldn't get the same font at the end of these notes. Sorry about that!