Author's Note:
Hey, friends! Just a note of thanks for all your encouragement. Your reviews and messages are keeping me going.
I'm hoping to wrap up this long tale real soon. Instead of waiting for the short story that is Part 10 to be completed, I started posting a chapter or two at a time so you'll know I'm still here.
And you might need some extra time to process this Chapter 40 anyway because it's gonna be long. (Forty?! Boy howdy! Guess I've gotten kinda carried away. Had no intention for this to turn into such a saga when I started.) But Jess' settling in at the ranch has too many ups and downs to cut it short.
And in the chapters that'll be comin' up after this one, you'll need to hang onto your hats, pards! I'm workin' on some surprisin' action to be comin' down the trail!
Hope you're enjoyin' it all. Thanks for readin'.
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Chapter Forty
It quickly became obvious that Slim had no need to worry about how much Jess Harper knew about ranching.
Over the course of the next three weeks, Jess proved himself with everything from rounding up strays, to branding, to roping and breaking mustangs, to shaping shoes in the forge, shodding the horses, taking care of a horse's strained tendon, fixing fences, and every other type of chore required to keep a ranch running well. He could expertly handle any tool. He knew everything there was to know about horses and cows, and had a talent for getting animals to do what they needed to do. Horses especially responded to Jess in a way Slim had never seen before with anyone.
Jess also knew all about hitching up the teams, driving a stage, repairing harnesses, and fixing axles and wheels.
And every job he undertook he did expeditiously and conscientiously, with exceptional attention to detail. Jess sure wasn't afraid of hard work. He went at everything full bore.
There were only three problems Slim saw… Jess could be argumentative about differences between the way he did certain types of work and the way Slim wanted them done. He wasn't above occasionally sneaking off for a nap or to go fishing with Andy, although he usually made up for it by working late or going out of his way to make some task easier for Slim. And Jess drank an inordinate amount of coffee. Jonesy was already complaining about how much Jess' beverage habit was costing them.
But Slim figured those three aggravations were minor compared to the difference Jess was already making in Slim's workload and in the atmosphere of the ranch.
Slim, and even Jonesy, were both surprisingly jovial when Jess was around. Jess had a great sense of humor. Slim hadn't felt this relaxed or laughed this much since before the war. He and Jess worked so well together, it was like they had done it for years. They already understood each other's thoughts and feelings as though they had known each other all their lives. And Andy was happier than Slim had ever seen him. Thanks to the bond he had formed with Jess, he had stopped talking about running off for a more adventurous life.
Even the stage drivers and shotgun riders seemed in a better mood when Jess was around. Mose and Frankie especially looked forward to the joshing banter that flew between them and the Shermans' new ranch hand. And Jess was unfailingly polite with passengers, downright charming with the travelers who happened to be female. Jess had a natural effect that both relaxed and, at the same time, energized everyone he was around.
Beyond the ranch, Jess was fitting in just fine too. He and Slim made it into Laramie at least every Saturday night, and Slim discovered then that Jess' popularity sure was growing. He had already made a circle of poker buddies who were impressed with his play. Slim noted that Jess was winning some, but being careful to not take too much from the townsfolk. He was sure Jess could have wiped them all out every time if he wanted to, but he was winning friends here as much as he was winning money. So he was making sure not to offend anyone with too big a win. And Slim was impressed with the fact that Jess never cheated, even though he could have done it quite easily and gotten away with it. He really had taught Andy the tricks cheaters use only so he would be aware if someone else was using them, not use them himself.
Jess was also careful about how much he drank, which kind of surprised Slim. He had expected Jess to be the type that busted loose on the weekend. But as they rode home one Saturday, it made sense why Jess always limited his intake to one beer or one shot of whiskey. He wanted to keep his wits about him.
As they talked on the way home, Slim was amazed at the things Jess had noticed in the saloon that he himself would have never thought to pick up on. People…the way they looked, talked, dressed, their habits, their quirks. And their guns. The building… the entrances, exits, windows, the main room, location of other rooms, lighting, shadows, even grooves in the floor. Jess would casually mention things that Slim never would have noticed.
"Wish Sam would git that rut near the end of the bar filled in. A man could git his spurs caught in that gully."
"Did you see that dee-sign on Calvert's wallet, Slim, the way it shines when that light over the poker table in the far corner of the barroom hits it just right?"
"Ever notice how that limp of Dawson's changes when he gits upset? He must control the pain good, so long as things are goin' his way."
"Sure would like to git a better look at that fancy Colt that Poore's carryin'. That special was sold only along the upper East Coast, last I knew. But he sounds like he's from Louisianne."
"Hey, Slim, ain't that little pink birthmark on the inside of Vanessa's elbow the purtiest thing? Shaped like a tulip."
Slim hadn't really given too much thought to why Jess took notice of every detail concerning every room and every person. He was too distracted by Jess' observations, like that one about Vanessa. Slim was working hard to control his envy over the way women responded to the guy.
At least it was turning out that bringing Jess Harper into the Sherman fold was looking like a darned good decision. Everyone was already starting to count on having Jess around. But it suddenly occurred to Slim that kind of dependence might not be such a good thing.
Because he didn't know how long Jess planned on staying. And if he left, he would leave a huge gap in the lives of a lot of people. Especially Andy. And Slim himself. The idea that Jess might decide to take off brought Slim a dread that he would never have expected to feel.
But for now, it was great having the hardworking, cocky Texan at Sherman Ranch. Jonesy no longer had any concerns about 'the bad penny,' as he still jokingly referred to Jess when he was out of earshot. And Slim had become so at ease with Jess' presence that he completely forgot that three weeks earlier he had asked Marshal Jeb Cochran what he knew about him. Cochran had replied that the name was unfamiliar, but he would do some checking.
There was something unusual about Jess that had all of the Sherman household wondering. No matter what, the Texan was always "fine." Whenever Jess was asked how he was doing or how he felt, with no hesitation he gave a standard answer. "I'm fine." It had taken them a while to realize what those words really meant. Nothing. At least not in the way of gauging Jess' true state.
When Jess looked a little pale one morning and Jonesy asked if everything was okay, he reassured them with his usual "I'm fine." He managed to hide how sick he was for nearly a day, until Andy saw him lose his dinner behind the barn and immediately ran to tell Jonesy. The old man insisted on putting their stubborn ranch hand to bed to recover from whatever was ailing his stomach. Keeping him there proved harder than anyone would have expected. By the following morning, Jess was back at work, once again declaring he was "fine" despite his obvious queasiness.
When he got bucked hard off a mustang, he was "fine." But Jonesy remarked to Slim the next day that he had noticed Jess had trouble bending his leg. Turned out the leg of those tight jeans didn't bend well when the knee in it was swollen to almost twice its normal size.
Another time when Andy asked if he was tired, Jess of course replied, "I'm fine." When he went to see to Traveller, Slim puzzled to Andy and Jonesy over how the Texan could keep going since it had been over twenty-four hours since he had slept. The previous day had been a long one full of hard work, including helping to fight a fire at the Bartley house. But for some reason Jess couldn't sleep that night. Slim had gotten up in the middle of the night for a drink of water and saw that his bunk was still untouched and he was pacing along the corral fence. Jess' occasional sleeplessness, frequent tossing and turning, and sporadic mumbling, apparently with nightmares, were things Slim hadn't figured out, and wouldn't ask about.
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"You know something, Jess? You've got a great laugh." Andy was smiling from ear to ear.
"I reckon most folks have a great laugh. Laughin' means you're enjoyin' life. So that sound is a good 'un comin' from most anybody." Jess gathered up their fishing poles as they prepared to head home.
"You're sure good at enjoying life, Jess."
Jess looked over at the kid, pensively for a moment, but then he smiled. "Guess I've learned to find the good that's just waitin' in every day and put it to proper use."
Andy nodded. "Like with what happened this day!" He held up the string of fish. "I don't remember ever getting this many that are this big. Has to be because of what you taught me to do."
"They're gonna make a fine supper. We'd best hurry and git 'em home for Jonesy to cook up."
"I still can't believe Slim just let us take off like this in the middle of the day to fish." Andy grinned. "I think you're having a good effect on him."
"I think he just had a hankerin' for trout."
As Jess walked by Andy's horse, the chestnut gave a friendly nicker, and Jess stopped to scratch his muzzle. "Ya know, you got yourself a right fine mount here, Andy."
"Yeah, Chief's a great horse all right."
"You had him since he was foaled?"
"Nah. Slim just bought him for me a little while ago. About a month or so before you got here. Sure hope I prove worthy of keeping him."
Jess frowned. "Worthy? Keepin' him? What do ya mean? Ain't he your horse?"
"Well, for the most part. I mean, I take care of him. I ride him. But he's registered in Slim's name as owner. Eventually he'll be fully mine though. If Slim don't take him away from me."
"Why would he do that?"
"He told me if I ever do something bad, he'll take Chief and sell him."
Jess scowled. "Bad? Like what?"
"Oh, nothing like neglecting my chores or smart-mouthing or anything like that. I might get some other punishment for something like that, like not being allowed to go to the festival with my friends. But losing Chief would only be if I did something really awful… like if I damaged property or hurt somebody or broke a really important rule."
"Yeah, I can see Mister Sherman sets mighty big store by laws and rules." There was a hint of disapproval in Jess' voice, so slight Andy didn't notice.
Jess thought of the times his father's discipline for him included not letting him ride for a few days. That was a hard punishment for him because he looked forward to riding every day. He loved the feeling of freedom it gave him and the rapport he had with horses. He felt the idea of actually selling Andy's horse out from under him was uncalled for.
"But that still ain't no cause to keep a man in line by threatenin' to sell his friend."
Andy smiled at Jess' view of a horse as a friend. He and Jess had a lot in common. And Jess referring to "a man" made him feel real grown up. He was liking Jess more and more all the time.
"Maybe he don't really mean it," Jess offered.
"Oh, he means it all right. Slim always follows through on anything he says. Never breaks his word. If he said it, he'll do it."
"Yep, I reckon he would."
"If Chief was taken away from me and sold… well, I'd just die." Andy walked up and stood beside Jess and patted the horse's neck. Chief nuzzled the boy's cheek. "I really would, Jess. I love this horse."
Jess could understand that feeling. "Looks like he feels the same way 'bout you. A man's horse is one of his best friends. Sometimes his only friend. You can't never do nothin' that would end up losin' him for ya, Andy. It would hurt Chief as much as it would you."
Andy loved the way Jess respected animals so much that he would consider the horse's feelings as well as his. "Well, don't worry, Jess. I'm never gonna do anything that would make Slim that mad."
"Well, if you do…" Jess grinned. "…just make sure you don't git caught, partner."
He winked and gave Andy a friendly slap on the back, and then went to his own horse and hop-mounted into the saddle.
As Andy watched that special way of mounting, he decided he had to start practicing that, if his legs were long enough to manage a big enough jump. As he and Jess rode toward home, Andy beamed at having Jess for a friend, and at Jess calling him 'partner.'
As they rode along Jess thought about what Andy said about Slim threatening to sell Chief if Andy didn't toe the line. He guessed he had no right to judge the kind of discipline Slim set. It couldn't be easy for a young man to take over the raising of his little brother after his folks died. He was sure everything Slim did was what he thought was best and necessary to keep Andy on the straight and narrow, even if that meant making the horse the leverage to do it. It wasn't the kind of thing Jess himself would ever think of doing, but that didn't make it wrong for the Shermans, he reasoned.
Jess also thought about what Andy said about enjoyin' life. Yep, even through the hard years he'd endured, he had found special times to enjoy, here and there. And some of the best moments he had ever experienced had happened in just these past three weeks. He still couldn't believe his luck in winding up here with this family on this ranch.
He loved the work he was doing─and all the benefits that came with it, like the great food, having a nice house to sleep in every night, a good barn and food for Trav, the peacefulness he found here. And above all, the people. They actually seemed to care about him, always asking how he was doing, fussing at him if they thought he might be sick or hurt. He sure wasn't used to that and found the attention a bit unsettling and unwelcome. But he knew they meant well.
And he had never felt so accepted anywhere he'd been, not since he'd lost his family. Slim and Andy conveyed the feeling to him that he fit in here. Jonesy did too. It was an unusual feeling to get used to. But at the least, he found himself able to be at ease.
He wondered if maybe there was a chance here for a fresh start, to leave his gunfighter reputation behind. Folks here hadn't heard of him, they wouldn't already have notions about him. Maybe there was a possibility here that he could actually have a different kind of life. One where lawmen didn't look sideways at him, and he wouldn't have to worry about getting called out on every street he walked down. Maybe Laramie held a future for him.
He remembered that doctor back in Willow telling him to recognize the people he should let into his world, to know there were some folks he could let his guard down with. Jess had sworn never to do that, but Andy, Slim, and Jonesy were making him take a hard look at that promise he had made to himself.
He considered himself a good judge of character, but what happened with Will Tibbs and Pete Morgan had really shaken him. He had let his guard down with them, and look where it got him. His pockets emptied and his skull fractured. He sure needed to get better at picking friends.
But he knew there really were some good people in the world. As he and Andy rode to the house, Jess thought back to the settlers that nursed him back to health after that range war in New Mexico─Charlie, Mary Ellen, and Lydia. And here in Wyoming, he had found the Sherman family to be made up of good people. He was actually beginning to develop some trust in them.
Even more surprising, he felt they trusted him.
And he was grateful.
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It was late afternoon, and Slim had just got back from the north range and dismounted near the kitchen door, calling to Jonesy that he was home. He turned at the sound of an approaching horse and saw the marshal rein to a stop at the hitching rail.
"Slim. How are ya?" Cochran dismounted.
"Doing good. How 'bout you, Jeb? What brings you out here? Hope it's just a social call."
"I've got that information you wanted. About Harper."
Slim immediately recalled asking the marshal about Jess. Now he felt guilty about that inquiry.
"Sorry it took so long. Had to wait for responses to my telegrams and letters. Then I was busy with that rustling ring." Cochran glanced around. "Is he here?"
"Not right now. He went fishing with Andy. They should be back soon."
"Well, I'll make this brief. Got some replies that you might be interested in, from various sheriffs, marshals, and other officials." Cochran pulled some folded papers from his pocket and went on to tell Slim about Jess' reputation as a gunfighter and his record with the law.
"He's been in trouble in more than a few places. Jailed more than once. Worst of the charges against him were brought for a couple of robberies. Prescott, Arizona. Abilene. He was held for quite a while there, but eventually he was cleared. As for the reputation as a gunfighter… we hadn't heard much about him yet in Wyoming, but he's plenty well known in other parts of the West." And Cochran went on to fill Slim in about Jess' known involvement in gunfights and range wars.
"And when he was only fifteen or sixteen, he rode with Dixie Howard."
"Howard?" Slim's eyes widened at that name, then his previous frown returned. "You saying I should be worried?"
"I wouldn't rule it out. But at this point, seems Harper is known for being fair and having a kind of code he lives by. He appears to have settled down some now too. Of course… when a man has a background with as much trouble in it as Harper has, it's best to at least be aware." The marshal folded the papers up and put them back in his pocket. He looked intently at the tall rancher, who stood with his arms folded across his chest, frowning at him. "The man's a gunfighter, Slim, plain and simple."
All those details Jess kept track of. And the limit to his drinking so he'd be sure to stay alert. It made sense now. He had to be ready and aware─of people, his surroundings, everything─in case anyone called him out. Or if anyone he had tangled with in the past just plain came after him. It sounded like Jess had lived a rough life, but Slim knew he was a good man. And that label that Cochran had just hung on him─gunfighter─seemed unfair for this current time.
"Are you forgetting he helped wipe out the Carlin gang?"
"No, I'm not. But that doesn't mean all that much to me in the long run."
"Well, it means a lot to me."
"You've got your information, Slim. And I've got mine. I guess we'll both use it as we see fit." Cochran turned toward his horse.
Slim begrudgingly thanked the marshal, although after three weeks spent with Jess, he now felt it was unnecessary to have asked for information—what Cochran had ended up turning into an investigation. He was sure that whatever problems Jess had had in the past, they were all behind him for good. Unfortunately, Slim was worried that he had stirred up a hornets' nest. What the marshal found out would now put the newcomer unjustly in the law's sights, possibly making Cochran and other lawmen in the surrounding areas wary of him when there was no need to be.
Slim felt guilty about casting a suspicious light on him, and only hoped Jess wouldn't find out what he had done.
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Jess and Andy topped the hill overlooking the ranch house and gazed into the yard below. Jess reined Traveller to a halt, so Andy stopped beside him.
"Something wrong, Jess?"
Jess had been to Laramie only a few times, so he wasn't sure about who he was looking at, especially from this distance.
"That man that's talkin' to Slim. Andy, ain't that Cochran, the marshal in Laramie?"
"Yeah, sure looks like him. Wonder why he's stopping by our place."
Jess didn't have to wonder. He knew. And the smile quickly faded from his lips and his eyes as a sinking feeling settled in his chest and his gut. All those hopes he had just gone through in his mind… they now crumbled into sand.
So much for trust. It was obvious he had been wrong about the way Slim felt. The rancher didn't trust him at all.
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Marshal Cochran mounted up and bid Slim farewell. He turned his horse toward Laramie, and as Slim lifted his hand to wave him off, he caught sight of the two people on horseback at the top of the hill. Jess and Andy slowly started the descent.
"Slim! Wait till you see all the trout we got!" Andy shouted long before they even reached the hitching rail. He slid from his horse, and proudly showed off the fish. "Jess showed me a new way to catch 'em. Different kind of cast with the line."
"That's fine, Andy! Looks like we'll sure be eating good tonight." Slim gave his brother's shoulder a squeeze. Looking at Jess, Slim took note of the sullen cowboy where a smiling fisherman should be.
"You'd best git them fish into Jonesy. And you can help clean 'em. I'll take care of Chief for ya." Jess took the lead for Andy's horse as the boy joyfully bounded into the house, carrying the fish and calling out to Jonesy as he went through the door.
Jess aimed a baleful look in Slim's direction, and the tall rancher immediately suspected that somehow the Texan, with that keen sense of his, knew why Cochran had been there.
Jess' intellect had surprised Slim on multiple occasions already. He may not have a lot of education, but Jess was quite intelligent, a very good thinker and problem solver, and seemed to possess a sixth sense about figuring out situations.
Jess' next words, and the edge in his voice when he said them, confirmed that.
"Ya got all the answers ya need now? Or ya wanna ask me somethin' direct?"
Slim looked chagrinned. "It's not like that, Jess."
"Ain't it?"
"Just let me explain. So you'll understand why Cochran was here."
Jess' gravelly tone came with a weary sadness. "I know why he was here, Slim."
Jess maintained eye contact for a moment, but when Slim, in his embarrassment, found it difficult to say anything further, Jess tugged on Chief's lead and headed to the barn, with Traveller dutifully following behind.
Slim watched him go and let out a heavy sigh. He sure had bungled things with this developing friendship.
The doubts he had earlier held about Jess were long gone, although Jess wouldn't fully know that yet. But the fact that they had been there to begin with was now obvious, as was the disappointment that showed in the Texan.
That look in Jess' eyes. It was that look that really got to Slim. Some sadness. But there was something more… hurt… and above all, a profound sense of loss.
What exactly does he feel he's just lost? I'm not gonna ask him to leave. He's still welcome here. Nothing's changed.
But Slim knew that wasn't actually true, not from Jess' perspective.
He didn't know if he should try to talk to Jess about it now, or drop it altogether and just try to go on from here. He decided to wait a while and see when would be the best time to approach the subject. Maybe after supper. Maybe in a couple of days.
But in the back of his mind, Slim worried that could be too late. He had already been worried Jess might take off someday and not come back. Now he was more worried than ever.
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Slim was surprised at suppertime when Jess took his seat, joking with Andy and Jonesy in his usual humor. Everything seemed almost back to normal. Jess even talked to Slim about the work to be done the next day. No anger. No moodiness. Like nothing was wrong. Yet, something still seemed different.
After they finished supper, Slim invited Jess to bring his cup of coffee and join him outside.
"Have a seat, Jess. It's nice to come sit out here on the porch in the evening. Jonesy and I do some talking here once in a while after Andy goes to sleep. Maybe if you and I need to talk about something, this could be a good place to do that."
Jess sank down onto one of the chairs, and Slim took the other.
"You thinkin' that's the case now? That we need to talk 'bout somethin'?"
Slim didn't respond right away. He pulled a flask from his vest pocket, opened it, and held it out toward Jess, nodding toward his cup.
Jess' eyebrows angled up. "Really? You? Straight-laced ol' Hardrock Sherman?"
"Do you want some or don't ya, Hotshot?"
Jess smirked and reached his cup over toward Slim, accepting the pour into his coffee.
They sat for a long time looking out over the ranch yard. Finally, Slim broke the silence.
"I asked Cochran about you that second day you were here. I'd even forgotten that I did. Wouldn't feel the need to get him involved now. I know you're a good man, Jess."
He waited, wondering if Jess would accept this roundabout apology. And somehow knowing there was no need for a formal "I'm sorry." Nor would Jess want one.
"Well… guess ya didn't much know me then."
"Don't know much about you now."
Slim watched him, hoping Jess would open up some about his past, his family, whether he intended to stay.
But that didn't happen. Jess leaned back and propped his boots up on the porch rail, one leg crossing the other at the ankle. Still staring out over the countryside, he took a swallow of his coffee.
"Ya know enough."
Slim thought about that. Maybe in time, Jess would share more about his history. In the meantime, they sure worked well together. He was surprised at how easily Jess seemed to be able to let bygones be bygones. It appeared Slim's asking Cochran about Jess hadn't damaged the trust between them too much. At least he hoped not. From his own point of view anyway, things were good. Jess was still a little guarded maybe, but also seemed pretty much at ease.
Slim smiled. He leaned back and propped his feet up on the rail too.
"Yeah. I know enough."