Sometimes Things Are Different

Chapter 2

Jess rode up to Slim and hopped down off of Traveler.

"'Bout time ya got here. How'd it go in town?" Slim stopped working long enough to watch Jess walk toward him and pick up his tools.

"I paid what you gave me, but Storekeep says we need to pay more on tha tab 'fore he fills another order." Jess began working on the fence.

"I was expecting that. Actually thought he would've said that a couple a weeks ago." Slim took his hat off and rubbed the sweat off of his forehead with his sleeve. "We need to finish this today." But instead of continuing his work on the fence, Slim laid his tools down.

"Then we need ta stop jawing and git at it." Jess was puzzled; it was usually Slim who was always prodding for more work and less talk.

"Yeah, but we need to talk about something important." Slim looked straight at the younger man.

Jess pushed his hat back a little on his head and turned all his attention to Slim. He had just begun to feel settled in at the ranch, but now he wondered if Slim was fixin' to tell him that he couldn't afford to keep him on any longer. Jess knew that Slim was real worried about money, but he had assumed that the upcoming meeting with the stage officials might at least keep the ranch going until the next roundup.

"Jess, I need you ta do something really important for me."

"Yeah?"

"I have a relative that borrowed some money from my parents years ago, and she has the money to pay the loan back now. I need you to ride to South Pass City and git the money from my mother's cousin, Ellen Miller. Her place is six miles west of South Pass City. She's sold her property and wants to take the train to California in a week from now. Do ya think you could git there in four days?"

"Well, yeah, if I ride hard. Why doesn't your relative just wire the money ta ya?"

Slim laughed, "That would be an easy solution. But there's two problems with that. Ellen doesn't trust Western Union with the money, and she gave my Ma her mother's locket to hold until the loan was paid back. I found the locket in some of my mother's things when I got Ellen's letter describing it. She's expecting me to bring the locket when I see her, but I have to be in Cheyenne if I'm gonna keep the franchise. So I need you ta go for me."

"Sure, Slim. But will this Ellen Miller give the money ta me when she's 'pecting you ta come git it?"

"I'll send her a telegram telling her that I'm sending you, and you'll have the locket to give to her."

"Okay. But if I ride Trav that hard, I'll need to rest him fore I head back here."

Slim nodded, "I figured that. If ya take four days ta git there, rest for a day or two, and then head back at a more normal pace, ya should be back here in 'bout twelve days ta two weeks, right?"

"Yeah, that should work if everything goes right."

"Then let's git this fence fixed so we can bring the stock down to this pasture when you git back." Slim slapped Jess on the shoulder.

Early the next morning

Jess went to the barn to saddle Traveler as soon as he finished eating breakfast. As soon as he left with Andy trailing after him, Jonesy sat back down at the table and poured both Slim and him another cup of coffee, "I shor' hope you're right about this."

Slim took a swallow of coffee before he answered, "I hope so too, Jonesy, but it's the only way that I can take the stage to Cheyenne tomorrow and someone can git to Ellen's before she leaves for California. I'm gonna ride to town and send her a telegram as soon as I give Jess the locket and see him off." Slim got up and went to his desk to retrieve the locket.

"I've packed him some food ta take since he's gonna try to git there in record time. And I thought you might want to loan Jess your father's money belt. Might be a good way to protect the money. I laid it on the desk." Jonesy went to the kitchen to get the food as Slim picked up the locket and the money belt and headed to the barn."

Andy and Jess were just leading Traveler out of the barn. "Slim, can't you let me go with Jess?" Andy asked the same question that he had asked twice last night when Jess's trip was the discussion at the dinner table.

"Andy, we've gone all over this. Jess is not on a joy ride. He's gonna have to ride for long hours each day if he's gonna git there in time."

"But I won't slow him down, I promise."

"Andy," Jess said, "we're not worried that ya would slow me down. But with Slim goin' to Cheyenne tomorrow, you hav' to stay here and help Jonesy with the stages."

Slim ruffled Andy's hair, "Ya know that Jonesy needs help with the harnesses and all while he's gittin' the food ready for the passengers." Slim appreciated the way Jess did his best to keep Andy from feeling that he was too young to go on such a hard trip. "Go on in and see if Jonesy has the food ready for Jess's trip."

As soon as Andy ran toward the ranch house, Slim pulled the gold locket out of his pocket. "I'm heading ta town as soon as you start out. I'll send the telegram telling Ellen that you will come in my place and that you have the locket to give back to her. You be sure and keep this safe. It's very special to her."

"I guess so." Jess said looking at the gold locket with the intricate engraving on the front.

"The pictures in there are of Ellen's Ma and Pa. I 'magin' it was hard to leave it with my parents considering that Ellen's parents had already passed.

"I'll take special care of it, Slim. Don't worry." Jess put the locket in his shirt pocket and buttoned the flap. "By the way, ya never told me how much money she's supposed to give me."

"Seven hundred dollars." Slim winced a little as he announced the figure.

Jess whistled and then said, "That's a heap of money."

"It sure is. That's why I thought you might wanna wear this. It's got several places to insert bills, and it's pretty thin. It shouldn't show much under your shirt. If ya put most of the money in there, you could keep a little of it in your pocket to pay the livery for Traveler and buy your meals while your resting in town. You'll also need to git some supplies for the trip back."

"I might jes put it all in here. I've still got some winnings from last Saturday's poker game in town."

"Ya don't need to spend your money on a mission for me."

"We kin settle up when I git back."

Slim handed Jess the money belt, "Okay, if that's what you want." Slim rubbed his chin, "You won't be tempted to git into a poker game in South Pass City, will ya?"

Jess looked a little hurt, but recovered quickly. Smiling he said, "I don't gamble with someone else's money, Slim. I know I'm good at poker, but I only use my money. And, if it makes ya feel any better, I'll stay out of poker games til I git back here."

"Alright then." Slim gave Jess a reassuring smile, "And thanks for saving Andy's pride about goin' with ya."

"I don't think he needs to make a trip like this until the feather down grows in, but we don't hav' ta let him know we think that."

Just then Jonesy came out of the house with a sack of food, followed by Andy. "Here ya go. This should keep ya from starvin' til ya git there."

"Thanks, Jonesy." Jess said as he put the sack in his saddlebag.

"And you be careful 'til ya git back here, boy." Jonesy patted Jess on the arm, but he looked quite serious.

"Don't worry, Jonesy, I will." Jess said as he hopped up on Traveler. "See ya all as soon as I can."

"Bye, Jess." Andy said as he patted Traveler.

"Take care of things, Andy, while Slim is gone. I know he'll save a lot of work for me to do even though he'll be back fore I will."

"You bet." Slim said smiling. "Have a safe trip."

"Yep. So long." Jess said as he turned Traveler toward the road.