Chapter Thirteen…Hang 'Em High, Hang 'Em Low…Just Hang 'Em!!

Hell Bent for Leather

By EmiliosLoofah

Author's Notes: Okay…it seems that I screwed up some dates here. I will start this chapter in March 1879. I know…the last chapter ended at the end of January 1879, but I don't care! I'm trying to keep everything in 'date' order as good as I can. Sorry for the mix-up!

Also…a shotgun is also called a 'scatter'…I use both words in my fan fic. A shotgun is a weapon that you have to re-load every time you use it. Now, a rifle, not unlike Jessie's 30-30, can shoot multiple rounds. YEE-HAW!!!

Chapter Summary: Jessie and Pat Garrett arrived in White Oaks, to find out that Chavez and Doc have been arrested and taken to Lincoln. Billy, they find out has also been arrested.

Special thanks to Sue, my friend, my beta, the woman that totally helps me out with this story!! Thanks so much!! You make me a better writer, girl!! What in the hell would I do without you?!?

Mid March, 1879

As Garrett and I rode towards Lincoln, I kept on thinking how Billy had actually got arrested. Was it because I wasn't there to help him? Puzzled, I was quiet in my own thoughts as Garrett and I rode side by side. I hoped that Billy was safe.

I was also thinking about Garrett. I knew he had feelings for me, but my heart belonged to Billy. I remembered what Garrett told me back on the Mescalero Reservation…"You want this as much as I do, Tunstall. Don't deny how you feel." Damn him and his testimonial!

"A penny for your thoughts."

I glanced over at Garrett, hoping he had no idea what I was thinking. "I'm trying to figure out how Billy was caught. That isn't like him."

"Maybe he wasn't caught."

"You don't think he turned himself in, do you?" I asked. "Billy's not that loco." I thought some more. "Bloody hell!" I exclaimed unexpectedly, making Garrett chuckle. "He had to have made a pact with somebody…but with whom?"

"I have no idea, Tunstall." He answered, pulling a small cigar out of his pocket, with some matches.

"And Dave wasn't mentioned in the paper either. I guess he got away." I laughed. "I'll bet he was very cross when he didn't see his name in The Independent!"

Garrett laughed with me. "I think you're right!"

"I'm worried about Charlie as well…he wasn't mentioned in the paper either." I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment. "The problem now is…" I glanced over at Garrett, who was now smoking his cigar. "How are we going to rescue Billy, Chavez and Doc?"

Hiding in the outskirts of Lincoln, Garrett and I let our horses graze, as we discussed what the next step was.

"It's far too dangerous for you to go into town, Tunstall. Let me go…I'm not a wanted man."

I thought about it for a moment. He did make sense. No one knew who Garrett was, and would leave him alone. "Okay," I told him, as he mounted his horse. I bit my lip, and rushed over to him, my hand on his thigh. What if something happened to Garrett? I'd never forgive myself!!! He looked down at me with a surprised expression on his face. "…please be careful, Garrett."

He smiled down at me, and took my hand in his. "I'll be alright, Tunstall. Stay low." Garrett sighed, and then softly touched my cheek with a concerned look on his face.

I nodded my understanding. Garrett then turned his horse around, and headed for Lincoln. I watched as he rode away, my thumb tracing the lettering 'Happy 16, JMT, 01/01/78' on the ring my Father had given to me on the day he was murdered.

I waited for about an hour, wondering when Garrett would come back. I wanted to know what was going on, desperate to ride into Lincoln myself, which would be a very dim-witted thing to do!

I heard a noise coming from behind me…a rustle of some cedar trees…the sound of leaves crunching under someone's boots. I scrambled behind a large bush, crouching down; keeping low as I slowly took my scatter off my back. I made sure both barrels were ready to fire. I kept it up, my eyes searching where I heard the sound and the surrounding area…but all I could see were all the cedar trees and bushes. I felt myself starting to sweat, as I had one finger on the trigger…another finger ready to generate some firepower with the second trigger.

"Jessie?"

"Charlie?" I whispered back in surprise, to see him walk up to me, with a huge smile on his dirty face. "Charlie!" I yelled, quickly setting my shotgun on safety and dropping it on the ground. I laughed loudly as I ran into his arms. Charlie laughed as well; hugging me close, twirling me around for a moment.

"What, no hug for me?" Arkansas Dave bellyached, as he walked up to us. I rolled my eyes and gave him a quick hug. Even though Dave got on my nerves, I was glad he was all right.

"I was wondering what happened to you both, after reading about Billy, Doc and Chavez in The Independent."

"Yeah," Dave spat on the ground. "Those bastards forgot to mention me…Arkansas Dave of Las Vejas…fuckin' pricks!"

I couldn't help but to smile.

"And I was wondering what happened to you and Pat." Charlie said.

"I was trying to leave…had mounted Pal, when the soldiers caught up with us in the barn." I sighed. "I didn't want to kill that soldier, Charlie."

"I know, Jessie. You did what you had to do to stay alive."

Dave snorted as he lit a cigarette. "I killed three of those bastards." He proudly stated.

Charlie stared into my eyes. "I was worried about you, Jessie. Jesus…" He heaved a sigh. "I was just glad to see you and Pat got the hell outta there. I've been worried 'bout you since John died. You're a true survivor, and don't forget that."

I smiled at Charlie. "I was worried about you too…it ain't easy havin' pals." I mimicked his comment from when we were in Juarez.

Charlie laughed again, and grabbed me by my neck, rubbing the top of my head with his knuckles. "Are you teasing me, Jessie?"

"Charlie! Stop!" I laughed, trying to push him away, which was an impossible task to do.

Charlie laughed again, and let me go.

"So…" I looked at Charlie and Dave. "…what's the news on Billy?"

"Nothing new…" Charlie told me. "He was arrested, and they're holding him in the court house. For some reason he hasn't seen the Judge as of yet."

"…and Chavez and Doc?" I asked hopefully.

Charlie looked over at me, his face grim. "They're scheduled to be hanged tomorrow morning." He said with a whisper.

I blinked back the tears. "We have to get them out of there!"

Before Charlie or Dave could respond, the sound of a horse approached. I ducked down behind a bush, as Charlie and Dave did the same. I picked up my scatter, ready for a fight. "It could be Garrett." I whispered to Charlie and Dave.

Indeed it was Garrett, who rode up…with Billy sitting behind him!!!

"Billy!" I cried out with delight, dropping my shotgun once again and running towards him. Billy quickly jumped off Garrett's horse, and ran up to me, hugging me tight.

"God, I missed you, sweetheart." He whispered in my ear, holding me so close, I thought he'd break my ribs.

I burst into tears, so very happy to see Billy again. My arms were around his neck. I never wanted him to be apart from him. "I thought I'd never see you again!" I sobbed.

"Jess…I told you that I'd take care of you…remember?" Billy softy told me, cupping my face with his hands. His thumbs wiped the wet tears from my cheeks. "C'mere." He smiled, gently pulling my face closer to him…kissing my lips softly. "Show me how much you love me…"

Our kiss deepened. I closed my eyes, and felt myself sway towards Billy.

"Ahem!"

Garrett's cough brought Billy and I back to reality. "We need to talk about Chavez and Doc, Billy." He stated. "They're going to hang tomorrow."

"We gotta get them outta there!" Billy said, locking eyes with mine. "Pals…remember?"

I smiled at Billy.

"What can we do?" Dave asked, done with his cigarette. "We all can't go down there and bust 'em out!"

He did have a point. I thought for a moment, and then smiled.

Billy looked at me and laughed. "Shit, Jess…you have another one of your crazy ideas? Well, let's hear it…any idea would be good 'bout now…even yours."

Garrett smiled down at me. "Oh, Jesus…"

My grin widened. "Dave is correct…we can't get them out…but a lynch mob can!"

Okay, folks…footnote here…as you probably know, a lynch mob was scary to any outlaw…frontier hangings seemed to go in spurts. Locals would tolerate lawlessness to a certain point and then they would start hanging any outlaw they could find, until it became an epidemic.

At dusk, we were all ready.

"Tunstall…how did you talk us into this?" Garrett laughed, as he put on a potato sack over his head, like the rest of us.

"You know it's a bloody good idea, Garrett." I smiled at him, placing a sack over my head as well.

"It's a fuckin' great idea, Jess!" Billy said, riding up to us, ready to go with a lit torch in his hand. "Don't let Patsy tell you anything less than that!"

I laughed as I mounted Pal. I couldn't wait to see Chavez and Doc again!!

We slowly rode into Lincoln towards the jail. It was a little difficult to see with the two oddly shaped holes in the potato sack, but I could still see. I held my lit torch, and could see several men surrounding the 'pit' jail.

Sheriff Bob Ollinger smiled when he saw us approach. I could just about hear my heart beating loudly with anticipation…this is what every prisoner in jail feared…lynch mob justice. The law didn't do anything to stop it…most times.

"We're here for the Kid." Garrett demanded loudly. I bit my lip and waited for Ollinger to reply.

"The Kid escaped…the little weasel." He spat his chew on the ground beside him.

"I'll check!" I heard Dave shout, as he quickly dismounted and ran into the Sheriff's office. He came out a moment later. "It's true…he's gone!"

I glanced over to see Billy lean up in his saddle, looking down, holding his torch high as he takes a peek into the pit jail. "No Billy the Kid in there!" He announced…with an Irish accent. I allowed myself to smile.

"Aw, shit!" Garrett cursed angrily. "Do ya got the Sweetheart Shooter at least?"

I glanced over at Garrett wanting to kill him. I knew that he probably had the biggest grin on his face as he asked Ollinger about me.

"Naw…not yet." He exhaled noisily. "She wasn't with the Kid when he was arrested. I'd like to show that wild filly the back of my hand for acting so un-lady like in public. She needs to be taught a lesson…one I wouldn't mind teaching…with my cock as well!"

Ollinger's men muttered and laughed in agreement. All I could do was sit on Pal, and slowly feel myself fuming with rage. All I wanted to do right now was pull my scatter and blow Ollinger's ugly face in half.

Ollinger continued to smile at us. "But…we got the Indian and tenderfoot in there…" He offered.

"Aw, shit…they'll have to do." Garrett sounded upset.

"Open the pit." Ollinger commanded to his Deputies, pulling his shotgun.

I could hear the prisoners shouting and scrambling around in fear. And seconds later, Chavez and Doc appeared…dirty, but alive.

It took all my self control not to leap off of Pal and hug them close. I watched as Charlie helped them on two spare horses we had managed to steal from a neighboring farm. Doc looked paler than usual, and Chavez was his usual stoic self.

"I order you to stop!" Ollinger laughed "As a peace officer of Lincoln County!" All of the deputies laughed along with him.

"Pick your tree, breed." Garrett told Chavez as we slowly rode away.

I hear Chavez swear in Navajo and Spanish. I grin, watching Doc begin to sweat.

"Look…" Doc said, as we rode away. "I'm not who you think I am. I'm a schoolteacher from New York and this here Indian is my guide. You have the wrong men."

"We know about your involvement with the Lincoln County War…and we know you rode with the kid…and you're gonna hang for it." Garrett told him.

I held back a laugh. Garrett was some actor!

I was smiling under my sack as I rode up next to Chavez, as Billy rode up to Doc. "I'm a schoolteacher from New York!" Billy imitated Doc's voice with a whine, and then laughed loudly…that crazy high-pitched laugh Billy was well known for.

Doc's mouth dropped in surprise, as Chavez looked over at Billy, as if he heard a ghost talking to him. Billy took this opportunity to throw his sack of his head, revealing his face to everyone. "How are your drawers, Doc?" He smiled at him.

"Billy…" He gasped in surprise. I glance over at Chavez, who looks like he's going to fall right off the horse. "Good to see you."

I threw off mine as well. "Good evening, Doc…Chavez…" I smiled at them. "How in the bloody hell are you both?"

"Jessica!" Chavez and Doc both stated at the same time with downright shock.

"You have a large group riding with you nowadays, Billy." Doc sounded impressed, his eyes looking past us.

"Oh my God!" I shouted with fear, watching with horror as the real lynch mob approached.

"It's the Kid!" I hear Ollinger shout with surprise, as I quickly pulled my knife from my boot and released Chavez from his rope bonds. I would have done the same for Doc, but his are made of steel. "…and the Sweetheart Shooter!"

I spat out a curse, thinking one of these days, I'd kill that reporter that bestowed that hated nickname on me.

"It's the real lynch mob!" Billy shouted. "Let's get the hell out of here!!!"

I grabbed and threw Doc one of my .44's. Making sure my shotgun was ready, I saw Charlie throw Chavez one of his guns…and we all scattered away headed in different directions.

Riding Pal hard, I aimed and pulled both triggers at Ollinger. He flew to the ground as he saw me coming for him. I missed him, but managed to get one of his Deputies instead. I see the prisoners escaping from the put jail. Good. They'll keep the Deputies busy! I think as I to ride past the pit jail.

I turned Pal around, to see some of the 'real' lynch mob coming for me. Not having time to re-load my scatter, I grabbed my 30-30 and started to shoot at them. I hit two of them, and Pal, understanding my need to get away, sped behind Murphy's old store.

I quickly dismounted, re-loading my shotgun as I did so. Re-holstering the 30-30 behind me, I used the butt of my scatter to break the store's back window. Unlocking the door through the broken glass, I headed inside. I grin as I located a large wooden box marked: 'highly explosive'. I rushed over and opened the box, to see sticks of dynamite inside. I picked up several sticks, and headed out back. You never know when dynamite will come in handy…

Once outside, I mounted Pal, and headed back for the main street. Everywhere fires were being shot, people on horses galloping through town, it was difficult to tell who was who. I've never seen anything like this in Lincoln Town.

I lit a match, and smiled, thinking that I was an expert on creating a diversion.

As I heard the hiss of the dynamite fuse, I threw it with all my might at a nearby empty wagon…with a team of horses still attached to it. In a few seconds, the wagon exploded, and the team of horses, now whinnying loudly, bolted straight down the main street; with the now burning wagon at a very rapid pace.

I sighed with relief, watching everyone move out of the way, and several people rush towards the burning wagon, trying to subdue the flames.

"Jessie!" I turned to see Billy ride towards me, with Charlie close behind him. "Let's get the hell outta here!!"

"Amen to that!" I shouted, as I kicked Pal and followed Billy and Charlie out of town.

"You look like shit." Billy stated, as I started to undress.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Bonney!" I laughed. I knew I looked like hell, after the last three days. Leave it to Billy to state the obvious.

We were in a small hotel just outside White Oaks. After getting out of Lincoln, the seven of us rode away, but not before we all agreed to meet in the foothills of the Sierra Bonita.

"Would you come here already?" He sounded impatient. I turned to see him already undressed, standing next to the bed, watching me with those bright blue eyes of his. My eyes traveled down his body. He was already stiff with desire, I noticed with pleasure. I was raring to go as well as Billy, but didn't want him to know that.

"What's the rush?" I teased him, taking off the rest of my clothes. As I walked up to him, I couldn't help but to smile.

With a growl, Billy grabbed me. "You little tease." He said with that excited, raspy tone I was used to when we were together like this. "You think you're so poised and in control. But remember…I know you, Jessie."

My giggle turned into an excited moan as he kissed me…his kiss then deepened, his hands gently cupped my breasts. I groaned with pleasure, enjoying his touch. How I missed him!

"Damn, I've missed you, sweetheart." He said, as if reading my mind. In between hot, wet kisses he tenderly laid me beneath him on the bed.

"I've missed you too, Billy." I told him. I shivered with anticipation as his lips traveled from my lips to my throat. "Oh, God, I can't wait! Please hurry!" I begged him.

"Please, huh?" Billy inquires. "Now who's in a rush now, hmmm?"

"Billy!" I yelled.

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