Chapter Forty-six
Jenson pulled himself to a sitting position on the ground, leaning back against the house near the porch. Keeping his gun on the man, Slim gave his brother a quick one-armed hug. "Andy, go inside and help Jonesy."
The boy ran into the house, and Slim picked up Jenson's weapon from the dirt. Jess took a step in the stage driver's direction, but stopped at the sound of hoofbeats and turned in readiness for whatever trouble might be coming. Three men galloped down a short path from the nearest copse of trees, sixguns in hand.
"It's okay, Jess!" Slim could see the stars. "It's Marshal Cochran and two deputies."
Jess lowered his weapon, but didn't holster it. He and Slim both stayed where they had stopped, waiting as the three lawmen dismounted. The two deputies ran straight to Jenson.
"Looks like you've got everything under control now, Slim," Cochran said.
"Yeah." Slim holstered his gun. "How'd you know to come out here?"
Cochran appeared not to have heard the question. He looked to his deputies, one holding a gun on Jenson while the other tended to his bullet wound. Then the marshal turned and began walking toward Jess. As he did, he pulled a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket.
Jess immediately stiffened and clenched his teeth. Cochran thought he had something to do with this?! Or maybe an old poster had shown up?
The idea of being hauled into jail again spiked a shiver through Jess that made him want to bolt. His gun was still in his hand, pointed at the ground, and his fingers reflexively tightened around the handle. He stood tense and glaring, about to strike out with anger and words of defense, when Slim beat him to it.
"Hold on, Marshal! Jess didn't do anything wrong. In fact, he's the one that saved the day here."
Slim held his breath. He remembered the way Cochran had sounded when he told Slim about Jess' record. The regret Slim felt that day for asking the lawman about Jess came back to haunt him again.
He glanced at Jess and seeing the tension in the man from head to toe, like a hunted cougar, a sudden concern gripped Slim. What would Jess do if he felt cornered? The Texan still held his revolver.
"Don't worry, Jess. We'll get this straightened out."
Jess wasn't fool enough to try to shoot it out with three armed lawdogs. Not unless they started shooting first. But his eyes were throwing daggers at Cochran.
"There's nothing for you to handle here, Slim," the marshal said. Then he called to his deputy. "Adams! Is Jenson's bleeding under control?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Get him on his feet."
Cochran started again toward Jess, the handcuffs dangling in his grasp.
Jess zeroed in on the 'cuffs. Then he turned apprehensive eyes to Slim, silently asking for help, knowing now that there was no need to worry about Slim's loyalty to him. Slim had his back, the same as he had Slim's.
As he had said, anyone who wanted to get to Slim would have to go through Jess Harper. And he was sure that anyone who wanted to get to him would have to go through Slim Sherman.
Slim met Jess' gaze with a nod of reassurance to him, followed by anger directed at the lawman.
"Cochran, you can't take Jess in! There's no reason to arrest him!"
The marshal stopped and looked back over his shoulder to the glaring rancher. "Arrest him? Slim, I'd like to give the man a trophy."
He holstered his sidearm and turned back to Jess. "Mister Harper, that was the best shooting I have ever seen."
Jess' expression was one of complete bafflement.
Then why are ya comin' at me with handcuffs?
Slim looked just as confused.
Cochran glanced over at his deputies, and seeing a bandana was in place around Jenson's shoulder and they now had him standing between them, he again called to Adams. "Put these on the prisoner." He tossed the handcuffs to the deputy.
Still not completely understanding what Cochran had in mind, but feeling more at ease now that the handcuffs were being snapped on the wrists of the man who deserved them, Jess released the breath he'd been holding.
Cochran took the remaining steps needed to stand right in front of Jess. "Most any man would have just shot that yahoo in the chest. But you had the skill and the character to put it in his shoulder. And I have to tell you, I've never seen a hand move that fast in all my life. Especially drawing a gun tucked into pants instead of a holster." The marshal smiled and reached out his arm. "I'd like to shake your hand, son."
A huge grin broke out on Slim's face as he watched Jess' reaction. Jess looked at his friend and then back to the marshal. Gradually, his wariness abated, and the right side of Jess' mouth briefly twitched with a bit of a crooked smile. He holstered his gun and grasped the marshal's hand in a solid shake.
Five seconds later, Marshal Cochran had both of his hands full, when one-hundred-seventy-five pounds of former gunfighter collapsed into them.
Eyes wide with worry, Slim rushed to kneel beside the marshal, who had sunk to the ground holding an unconscious Jess Harper.
"Oh, no," Slim moaned. He shook his head in distress at the sight of the bright red blood soaking through Jess' shirt.
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Some words made sense, some didn't. In the brief periods when awareness would flicker, he tried to pull himself from the darkness and awake up. But the effort to open his eyes kept failing. Various voices flowed into his ears, and Jess tried to pin a name to each as he briefly heard them before slipping into unconsciousness again.
Cochran: "Jenson had tried to recruit his friend Lyle to help him pull off the attack here. But the guy wouldn't do it. Lyle even came over to the office and filled me in on the plan. That's how we knew to ride out here. Got here as soon as we could, Slim. Came through the trees just in time to see Jess pull that gun out from under his jacket."
Doc Hanson: "No, Slim, you did nothing wrong. In fact, you did an admirable job with those wounds. I checked them both carefully. You got the debris out. But his body is still fighting the infection, and the fever has flared. At least we got that bleeding stopped. He just pushed himself beyond what his body could handle right now. Jonesy, be sure to follow the instructions I've given you. And the medicine will help."
Andy: "Can I sit with him, Slim? I can sponge his face as good as you and Jonesy are doing. Why is he still so hot? He can just keep this bed as his, and I'll sleep in the upper bunk from now on. He couldn't be climbing up there for a long time anyway with the way his side is. And it'll make me feel better to give something to him like that."
Jonesy: "Don't be worrying so much. It'll just take time. But you mark my words, that Texas scalawag is gonna be all right, Slim. Now let Andy and me take a turn looking after him while you tend to the chores. And then tonight you have really got to get some good sleep."
It was the second evening after the thwarted murder attempt, when Jess finally succeeded in making his eyes open. When the lids went up, his direct line of sight landed on the tall rancher sitting half-asleep on the chair at his bedside.
Slim shifted from his uncomfortable position. Rubbing the back of his neck and blinking the blurriness away, he was startled to see the pair of dark blue eyes focused on him.
A smile broke on Slim's face like the sun rising in the east. "Jess!"
"Hey, Slim."
"Seems we've been in this situation before, pard. And that's a mighty weak response. I can barely hear it. But I'll sure take it!"
Slim jumped up from his chair and laid a hand on Jess' forehead. Then, still with that big smile on his face, he turned toward the open door.
"Andy! Jonesy! Jess' fever broke. He's awake!"
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The unseasonably warm early November breeze blew so calmly across the ranch yard it gave no hint that the forthcoming Wyoming winter could be ferocious. The sun shined brightly, and with a full belly from a satisfying breakfast, Jess stepped outside and tugged on his gloves.
At the corral, he rested his arms on the top rail of the fence and watched the horses as he smiled at the sound of tacking up that was coming from the barn. The slap on his back was a welcome greeting.
"You've done a great job with her, Jess." Slim joined him in admiring the mare that Jess had worked with for three weeks. "She's a beaut."
"Yeah, she should give us some good foals. Unless… You ain't thinkin' of sellin' her too, are ya?"
"Nope. She's a keeper. You know, I'm really impressed with the techniques you use for breaking horses."
"Gentlin' 'em. Not—"
"I know. I know. You gentle them. Teach them. You don't break them. You want them to keep their spirit, not have it broken."
Jess nodded. "They just need time to git used to their new surroundin's and all the people. Time to adjust to the way life is now and figure out they belong here."
Slim glanced at the man at his side. He thought Jess' description could have applied to himself as much as the horses.
"Your approach sure works. The stallion's coming along fine too."
Jess glanced at the paddock, where the wild horse they had brought in two weeks ago was being kept. "He's settlin' down nice. Won't be long till we can fence him with the others. Needs a name."
"Yeah, I'm surprised Andy hasn't come up with one already. Well, I'd better get back to my work. You still planning to make it into town today?"
"Yep. And Andy's goin' along. We're 'bout set to leave."
"Sounds good. I appreciate you handling that transaction for me."
"I 'preciate ya trustin' me with it."
"Can't think of anything I wouldn't trust you with, Jess." Slim grinned. "Except any lady I might have my eye on."
"Aw, now Mister Sherman, you know I couldn't hold a candle to a high-falutin' landowner like yourself."
Slim laughed and walked back toward the side of the house to pick up some tools left there, stopping near the kitchen door as Jonesy stepped outside to speak with him.
"Hey, Jess. Now you be back by suppertime," Jonesy called out. "I'm making that chicken 'n' dumplings you like so much."
"You bet, Jonesy. You know I wouldn't miss that meal."
"Or any other," the old man joshed with a smile.
Just then, Andy came from the barn, leading two horses. "Got Traveller ready for you, Jess." He handed the lead over.
"Thanks." Jess looked at Andy's horse and chuckled. "I tell ya, Andy, if you keep brushin' him so much, you'll git him so sleek the saddle and blanket'll both slide right off."
"Well, I'm taking the best care of him I can. Gotta make sure Slim knows how glad I am to have him."
Jess patted the horse's withers. "Chief's lucky to have you too."
"I hope that mare he sold last week feels lucky at her new home."
"Don't worry. She went to a good 'un. Hey, you 'bout done with the project ol' Hardrock's had ya workin' on as penance for that little incident with my gun?"
Andy recognized Jess' tendency to minimize the severity of any injury he got, but he knew─and would never forget─how serious 'the incident' was.
"Little? Come on, Jess. I still feel bad about it. And I know how lucky I am that Slim's making his point by having me do this manger job, to help care for all the horses. Instead of taking Chief away from me." He looked up at Jess. "I have a feeling you might'a had something to do with that."
Jess continued to watch the horses in the corral, neither confirming nor denying Andy's speculation. "I think Slim wants you to learn two lessons." He turned toward Andy. "One is respect. For rules. For the man in charge. And for life, and how easy it can slip away if you don't take proper care."
Andy nodded.
"And the other lesson, Andy…"
Jess' eyes held a wistful look.
"…mercy."
His thoughts were of his father's handling of his disobedience with the cougar cub. "There's times when showin' some mercy is the right road to take."
"I'll remember both those lessons, Jess. And yeah, I've almost got the new mangers done. I've got them all built. Just need to do a little more sanding, then washing out, and some finishing up, and they'll be ready to put in place. A small one for each stall, and the big one for here at the corral."
"Well, they'll be the best feed troughs in the land. Our horses are gonna be downright spoiled. It was a dadgum hard job. All that measurin', totin', sawin', nailin', and all. But you handled it, partner."
Andy grinned. "I just want to give Slim a progress report on the sanding, then I'll be ready to go. Okay?"
"Sure."
Andy left Chief by Jess and hurried over to where Slim stood talking with Jonesy.
Jess scratched Traveller's muzzle as he looked toward his three friends standing near the kitchen. And suddenly, a picture formed in his mind.
The premonition. The one he'd had during his days in Colorado in the first months of the year. He saw it all, like before. The ranch, the ranges, the horses, cattle, corrals. The house and the barn. Except this time, the image was crystal clear, even the S─R on the barn. Everything in place. Including the feelings. The family. The brotherhood.
Brothers. He had two brothers again.
He thought about Johnny and Benjie. And he knew they would be glad for him. So would his sisters. He pictured Chloe and Francie. And he remembered those words Francie had said on the ride back from the Bradys' house.
"…you can let go of your anger and try to find some happiness…"
I did, Francie. I'll admit I still got a burnin' for justice for our kin. I ain't forgittin' 'bout Bannister. But the feelin's have settled some. Maybe if you're still here on this ol' world somewheres, we'll run across each other agin someday. And I can tell ya in person. I found that happiness you wanted for me.
Another memory glowed in his mind. His father and mother, standing with their arms around each other.
Pa, Ma, you need to know somethin'. And you need to tell all the kids. See, Pa, I got me a home. A place I belong. And Ma, I got me a family agin. And there's somethin' else y'all need to know 'bout me. 'Cause it's really true now…
"Jess?" Slim's call interrupted his friend's thoughts.
Jess realized Slim, Jonesy, and Andy were all looking toward him. All with pleasant, yet curious, expressions on their faces, wondering why he stood there for so long, staring at them.
His gaze was on them, but at the same time he was seeing his family in his mind's eye.
"Jess, you all right?"
A smile slowly spread across Jess' lips.
The answer came strong and sincere. Meant for the ears of his three friends standing there, and for the hearts of his Harper family in the world beyond.
"Ya know somethin'? I'm mighty all right, Slim."
Jess' smile grew even bigger.
"For sure an' a fact, pard. And I swear it as my oath…"
Jess raised his eyes to the heavens, and his face beamed. Then he looked back at Slim.
"I'm fine."
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─ The End ─