Chapter Eleven...Tunstall and Garrett
Hell Bent for Leather
By EmiliosLoofah (otherwise known as tk421beth)
Author's Notes: Did you know that Tom O'Folliard was involved in the Lincoln County War? Yupper, he was a Regulator…and in the McSween home with Billy and the other Regulators, when it was burnt down! I decided to introduce Tom in YGII, and not make it historically fact.
Chapter Summary: Pat Garrett had joined Billy, Charlie, Dave and Jessie. Billy decides that they need to go back to Fort Sumner, after he gets shot in the leg.
Special thanks to Sue, my beta! Thanks for your help!!! And I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas…and ya'll have a bitchin' New Year!!!
January 26, 1879
We headed back to Fort Sumner, with me worrying about Billy's leg the whole way there. I need to get that bullet out!!!
We arrived at Fort Sumner as heroes. A large crowd of the local people gathered around us and cheered, as we slowly rode in. 'El Chivato! Sweetheart Shooter!' They cheered over and over again. Billy and Dave waved happily at the crowd, and accepted some bottles of tequila from several admirers.
Always suspicious, I gave the crowd a slight smile, as I searched the horde of villagers for any unwelcome visitors. Charlie and Dave were the first ones off their horses. Dave went towards a small group of giggling senoritas, and I watched Charlie walk inside the local barber shop. "Patrick!" A Mexican woman cried out, running up to him. I stared at Garrett, as he smiled and quickly dismounted, giving the woman a big hug.
Smiling to myself, I scanned the crowd once again. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, so I dismounted Pal, grabbed my medical bag, and followed Billy inside Beaver's place.
"What the hell happened to you?" Beaver asked Billy as we walked in. Billy just looked at Beaver and then sat down. I kneeled in front of Billy, as I barked out an order in Spanish for someone to bring me a bowl, a clean basin of water, and a dirt free washrag. 'You have to make sure the materials that you are using are fresh and clean, Jessica.' I could hear Doc's voice tell me. 'You have the makings of being a great healer. Keep up with your studying.'
As I was tearing the hole in his trousers into a larger hole, an old Mexican woman quickly handed me the things I requested to mend Billy's leg. 'Gracias, Senora!' I started to clean the wound as Beaver handed Billy a newspaper. The old woman smiled at me. 'De nada, Jessie.'
I smiled back at her. My first task was to rid Billy of the bullet inside his leg. Beaver cam back over and handed us two plates of food for Billy and myself. As hungry as I was, the food could wait.
"They're startin' to round up the old Regulators, Billy." Beaver told him, as Billy started to read the paper. "The new Governor is not pleased with what had happened with the Lincoln County War. Billy…you an' Jessie are on the top of their hangin' list."
I was in the process of digging the bullet out, when I hear that interesting tidbit of information. I looked up at Billy to see him frown at Beaver, and rip the paper in half. He then looked down at me. "It'll be okay, sweetheart." He told me, with a small smile.
I'll look after you. I'll take care of you. That is what he promised, and Billy has kept all his promises. I gave him a grin, and continued on with my task.
"I got it!" I exclaimed to Billy, dropping the bloody bullet in the bowl. I disinfected the injury, and quickly wrapped his leg with a piece of clean cloth from my bag.
I looked up at Billy, to see he had his six-shooter out. I looked past him and Beaver to see a young boy standing in front of the doorway. He didn't look to be any older than thirteen years old. His black hair was wild, his pale face dirty. He certainly didn't look like one of the locals.
Beaver went ballistic, grabbing the youngster by the collar, trying to kick the boy out of his establishment. I stood up, and grabbed my shotgun. "Beaver…let him go, damn it!" I demanded, glaring at him, the shotgun in his face.
"Tunstall! Not again!" I heard Garrett chuckle, as he walked in. Charlie was right behind him.
Billy chuckled along with Garrett, as Beaver's face turned pale, staring down at both barrels of my shotgun. He slowly let the boy go, and submissively went behind the bar. I placed my shotgun in the holster behind my back, and smiled at the boy. "What's your name?" I asked.
"Tom…Tom O'Folliard, ma'am."
"Ma'am!" Billy laughed at that. I glared at Billy, and sat down next to him, and started to eat my plate of food. "This here is the Sweetheart Shooter, boy!"
I nodded at Tom. "Call me Jessie." I looked up at Billy with a glare. "Quit calling me that!" I hissed. Beaver came back over and handed Charlie and Garrett a plate of food as well.
"Are you Billy the Kid?" Tom asked, wide-eyed, as he inched forward. "The Prince of Piss?"
I began to laugh, as I saw Charlie choke on his food. No one talked to Billy that way. No one!
"The Prince of…Pistoleers?" Tom found his voice again.
"Ya hear that, Beaver?" Billy asked him. "Prince of Pistoleers?" The all laughed at that. "Where are you from, boy? New York?"
"Pennsylvania." Tom answered. "I came out here to ride with Billy the Kid."
"Oh, you did, did you?" Billy asked him, standing up.
I watched Billy walk up to Tom. "You see this?" He asked him, pointing at his hurt leg. "Is this what you want? To be shot at? To be hidin' out in the bush like some lizard being shot at?" He held out his hand, and pointed his index finger like a gun to Tom's head. "Blam! Blam! Blam!"
Tom was quiet for a moment; he looked a little frightened, as his eyes went to Billy, to me, and then looked up at Billy, putting up a brave front. "…Yes!"
I began to smile. So, the kid had spunk!
Billy chuckled, as he sat down again. "Beaver?" He said, holding his hand out in a dismissive way, giving Beaver full rein to do what he wanted to do with Tom.
"I got you now, you little rodent!" Beaver happily exclaimed, chasing him outside.
I shook my head and laughed. "Billy! Why did you do that…sic Beaver on that poor boy?"
Billy just laughed, and mussed my hair.
Beaver suddenly ran back inside, muttering in Spanish that the soldiers had just arrived. Everyone started to move…Charlie ran to the back of Beaver's, his face a grim line of fear, with a pistol in each hand. The old woman who helped me earlier dashed behind the bar, following Beaver.
Shit! Billy scrambled over to a large barrel, and Garrett and I helped him in it. Billy already had his pistols out. I quickly placed the lid back on the barrel, and grabbed Garrett by his gun belt.
"What are you doing?" Garrett demanded, as I unbuttoned the first three buttons of my shirt, and positioned him between my legs.
"Follow my lead!" I hissed, and planted a big kiss on his lips.
It was good timing…I heard the soldiers come in, and Beaver complaining why they kept on coming here…the Kid and the Sweetheart Shooter weren't here…and that's when it happened. Garrett deepened the kiss, forcing his tongue in my mouth…his strong arms holding me close.
My plan was simple enough…to use Garrett to distract the soldiers. In a way, this plan was working…but I enjoyed being in his arms. Wait…what was happening here? I was Billy's girl…his sweetheart…
Opening one eye, I noticed three soldiers rush in, rifles in hand. They glanced over at Garret and I. By this time, I was enjoying his kiss…and was boldly kissing him back, my arms now around his neck. I surprisingly closed my eyes, feeling warm all over, a hot wave of desire rushing through me, almost making me dizzy.
Garrett groaned against my mouth, as I opened my eyes again to see the soldiers were now gone. I gently pushed Garrett away. "Garrett…" I whispered, bringing him back to reality.
Garrett opened his eyes and stared at me, with a slight smile. I held his gaze, wondering what in the hell just happened here. Without a word, Garrett picked up his hat, and walked outside.
I quickly buttoned my shirt up again, and grabbed one of my guns. I helped Billy out of the barrel. "That was a close one." He said with a smile.
"Yes." I agreed with him, still reeling from Garrett's kiss. "We need to get out of here!"
"Stay close to me, sweetheart." He said, taking one of his .44's out, and peering outside. I was right behind him, and didn't see a soldier in sight. I sighed, thankful that they had left.
"I'm going to check on our horses." I informed Billy, re-holstering my gun. He smiled at me, and went back towards Beaver's.
I watched him walk away, and headed for the stables. I heard the horses moving about and snorting. Someone was in here…
I grabbed my .44, and carefully looked around, my stomach in knots.
"Tunstall!" I sighed, and put my gun down, as Garrett walked up to me.
"I almost shot you." I joked, as I put my pistol back in the holster once again. "What are you doing in here?"
"I can ask you the same thing." He said, looking down at me with a smile.
"I wanted to check on Pal." I haughtily told him, bushing past him.
I didn't get far. Garrett grabbed hold of my upper arm, causing a gasp of surprise from me, as he pulled me into him. My hands were on his chest as he looked down at me, his arms around me, his smile now a frown.
I challenged him, boldly looking straight into his eyes. I knew what he wanted, but didn't he understand that I did what I did to protect Billy…protect us? "Garrett…" I began to explain.
"Shhhhh." He told me, his hand cupping my face, his head bending towards mine.
"No!" I shouted, trying to squirm away from his grasp, but to no avail. "Garrett…stop it!" I told him as his lips started to lick and nibble at my neck. I groaned, enjoying the feel of his lips on me, as goose bumps spread over my body. No…this was wrong!
It took all of my strength to push him away from me…a great feat, considering I was only 5'6" and Garrett was 6'4"!
We stood a few feet away from each other, glaring at each other. Funny, with all the bounty hunters, sheriff's, deputies, marshals, soldiers and other assorted men looking for us, I had this to add to the list. And I thought I had enough troubles.
"Boom! Boom!" I heard the sounds of gunfire. I reached for my own, running outside, with Garrett close behind. The soldiers were back-well, they probably didn't even leave! Damn it!! I watched in terror as Billy ran around Beaver's place, the soldiers close behind him. The villagers were screaming, running away from the scene.
"Help me get the horses ready!" I yelled at Garrett, who was quickly doing what I asked. I grabbed Billy's horse, and walked it outside; just in time…Billy was running towards the stables.
"BILLY!" I shouted, leading his horse, and then slapping it in the rump. Billy smiled as he ran past me, quickly mounting his horse. He gave a loud shout of excitement as he rode away from Fort Sumner.
"Jessie!" Charlie came from the rear of the stables. I rushed back inside to see Garrett had Charlie's horse ready. I quickly rushed over to Dave's horse, thinking he'd be here any minute.
"Go after Billy." I told him, as he looked down at me. "Go!" I commanded, as Charlie reluctantly rode off.
Dave suddenly came running in, as Charlie was on his way out, a smile on his dirty face. "Did you see that?" He asked us.
"What?"
"I got three of those dumb-ass soldiers!" Dave told me with an excited tone, as he mounted his horse.
I rolled my eyes, as I finally mounted Pal. "Let's get the hell out of here!" I shouted as I pulled my shotgun from my back, making sure it was ready to fire.
Dave rode out, and then three soldiers came running inside the stable, stopping Garrett and myself.
"Shit!" I exclaimed, as they raised their rifles at the two of us. My shotgun out, I had the advantage and quickly aimed; shooting both barrels. The middle soldier's chest exploded with buckshot as he fell; causing the one on his right to fall as well.
"Tunstall…follow me!" Garrett yelled, shooting at the remaining soldiers. I didn't hesitate, seeing several soldiers following Billy's path.
Turning Pal, I kicked him into a fast gallop. I knew Billy was headed north, but there was no way we could follow at this time. We needed to get out fast! Pal sensed my urge to leave Fort Sumner quickly, and easily caught up with Garrett, riding west.
Garrett and I ended up at the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation around dusk. We both were dead tired, and so were our horses.
A small crowd gathered around us as we dismounted. A young warrior took our horses to the grazing field, and some elders and young ones greeted me, looking at Garrett with inquisitive eyes. "Are you sure we're safe?" Garrett asked me, with a worried look on his face.
"Yes…they know Billy and I…Black Bear!" I cried happily as the elder approached, his arms wide open. I ran up to him, and gave him a hug, as he hugged me back. I drew back for a moment, noticing that his hair is mostly gray now, and there were more wrinkles on his proud face.
"Who is this?" Black Bear asked, his brown eyes starting at Garrett.
"Black Bear…this is Patrick Garrett…a close friend of Billy's." I quickly explained.
"A friend of Billy and Jessica is a friend of mine." He told Garrett with a smile. Garrett seemed to relax, as the three of us walked to Black Bear's teepee. "I had a dream about you." He told me, as we walked inside. His tepee was neat and tidy, and small fire was burning in the center of it, and I sat down, legs crossed in front of it.
"What about?" I inquired, as Garrett sat beside me. "He's the Di-Yin…a healer." I whispered to Garrett.
"Your future." He said with a serious tone to his voice.
I could hear myself gulp at that response. I wondered how long I would live, riding with Billy like this. It's not like I have a choice in the matter now. What's done is done.
"Billy is not the right man for you." He solemnly told me, sitting across the fire from Garrett and I.
I gasped at his statement. "Black Bear! I…"
"No, little one…" He told me, with a hand up in the air. "The Great Spirit have spoken. You two are not right for each other. There is another."
"Who?" I demanded, standing up. "Who is it?" Oh, God, don't let it be Arkansas Dave!
"This is cannot foresee." Black Bear simply stated.
"Well, this is wonderful news!" I sat back down, rolling my eyes. He sounded so much like Chavez…
Black Bear laughed as he prepared some tea. The three of us drank in silence, each deep in our own thoughts. "You both will stay here tonight." Black Bear said after a while.
I looked over at Garrett, who nodded his approval. "Thank you…Black Bear." He told him.
Black Bear smiled at the both of us. "Come. I will take you to your teepee."
We followed him to the edge of the small village, to a small teepee near where the horses were grazing. "You both will stay here tonight…"
"Black Bear…I cannot stay with Garrett."
"Why not?" He asked; his eyebrows rose with amusement.
"Uh…because…" I stammered as the elder laughed.
"There is no room to put you anywhere else, Jessica. You will stay here." He said, practically shoving us into the teepee. I turned towards the flap of the tepee to see Black Bear wink at me, and close the flap.
"Damn it!" I swore, pacing the tepee. I noticed Garrett was quite comfortable on the buffalo hide, as he tossed his hat from his head, and took his gun belt off. A small fire was burning and I could see his brown eyes sparkle as he studied me pacing.
After a few minutes, I sighed, taking off my hat and my gun belt as well. The fire was warm, and I needed sleep. I grabbed a spare elk hide, and made my pallet across the tepee from Garrett. "Good night, Garrett."
"Good night, Tunstall." He answered me back. As I got comfortable, my eyes drooped and I fell into a deep slumber.
Hey! I hoped you liked it! Please review! Thanks so much!!