The first floor of the King's cabin was lit. Jim appeared on the porch as soon as the riders entered the ranch yard.
"Evenin' Sheriff. Kind of late for a call, ain't it?" Jim greeted.
None of the riders dismounted from their saddles. Jess and Slim each kept their right hand resting on the butt of their guns.
"Evenin'. I just had some questions I needed to ask Mattie and Val," Mort stated.
"This late?"
"Afraid so."
"Anything I can answer?"
"You heard the sheriff," Jess growled. "He wants to speak to the Kings."
"Jess," Mort warned.
"Oh, well, uh, they've gone to bed," Jim stammered.
Slim edged his horse closer to the porch. "If that's so, then why is the house still lit? And why ain't you in the bunkhouse?"
Jim glanced from face to face. "I was doing some paperwork."
"I don't think they'll mind if you wake them," Mort advised. "We'll wait."
"Suit yourself, Sheriff."
As soon as Jim disappeared, Jess stated, "I don't like it."
Slim nodded. "Something ain't right, Mort."
"Now you fellows take it easy. I know you're both itching for a fight. But I'm hoping one can be avoided. I agreed to come out and see if Val and Mattie were all right. And we'll see what Mattie knows about this rustling. But I'm warning each of you, you let me handle this in my own way. You hear me?"
Slim said, "All right, Mort." But Jess said nothing.
"Jess," Mort said the word as if it were an order.
"Sure," Jess mumbled but his hand tightened on the butt of his gun.
Mattie soon appeared on the porch. Jim lingered in the doorway. .
"Evening Mort," she greeted. She never acknowledged Slim or Jess. She kept her eyes locked on the Sheriff's face.
"Mattie," Mort nodded, "hate to wake you up."
"What can I do for you, Sheriff? Kind of late to be making a call, ain't it?"
Mort nodded. "I know it's late, but you mind if I come in?"
"Oh...well...can't we talk out here? It must be awful important for you to ride this far out."
"Any reason why you don't want us inside?" Mort persisted.
Her eyes slid to Jess. "I don't cotton that rustlers come in my home," she stated. "We had more cattle stolen today. 'Course I suspect Slim and Jess already know that."
"Mattie, you know Slim and me ain't the rustlers," Jess accused. "And you know where those cattle went-"
"Jess!" Mort warned. "You let me handle this. Mattie, I got some questions to ask you and Val."
"Well," Mattie said. "Val's asleep. Got an awful headache. Took some medicine the doctor gave her. If you could come back tomorrow?"
Mort answered bluntly, "Mattie, Jess here says you were with him this morning at your south range. And you and him saw Jim steal your cattle."
"Jess is a liar!" Jim shouted, his hand starting to drop towards his gun.
"Let Mattie speak," Jess warned. His hand clasping the butt of his gun. "And keep that hand away from your gun. If you go near it, I'll draw."
"Jess! No one's drawing!" Mort gave his own threat.. "Now I don't want gun trouble. So both of you keep your hands where I can see them. This is a friendly visit. And it's going to stay that way. You both hear me?"
Jim raised his hands. "Sure, Sheriff."
Mort glanced at Jess. "Raise them, Jess. Get that hand away from your gun."
Jess grasped the saddle horn.
Mort sighed impatiently. "Now Mattie, I want you to answer my questions. Were you with Jess today? And did you see Jim stealing your cattle?"
Mattie glanced over her shoulder at Jim then stared hard at Jess. "You know how I feel about gunslingers. Why would I be riding with one?"
Jess barked, "Mattie, what's got into you? If you're scared of Jim. We got three guns on him!"
"I ain't scared of nobody!" Mattie yelled back. "Including you! So don't think you can intimidate me into saying something that ain't so! Now, Mort, I've answered your questions."
"Well I've got one more. Jim came to see me tonight. Said you and him had seen Jess rustle cattle this morning on your south range. Is that so?"
For a quick second Mattie's lips tighten.
"It's true all right!" Jim bellowed.
"He asked Mattie, not you," Jess threatened.
Mort's gaze slid from Jim to Jess. Though Mort never said a word, both Jess and Jim understood the sheriff's warning. "Mattie," Mort shifted his focus, "I'm waiting for an answer. Did you catch Jess rustling?"
Mattie raised her chin defiantly. "Since you're a friend of Slim's, would you believe me if I said it was true?"
Mort didn't try to hide his anger. "Mattie King, you know better than to ask me a question like that."
"I 'spect Jess has done a lot of things the law should question. But he's still riding the range."
Mort's face reddened with indignation. "You come in tomorrow and sign a complaint. And we'll see if Jess is still riding the range."
"Mattie, I don't know why you're lying -" Jess' temper lit with a fury even Slim had seldom seen,. "-but if you weren't a woman, I'd-"
"You'd draw against me?" Mattie asked. "You already did that."
"Jess!" Slim said shocked. "Against a girl?"
"I didn't mean--it just happened when I seen a gun start to draw." Jess' eyes dropped to his saddle.
Mort announced, "We'll be going now."
Jess looked up quickly. "Wait a minute! You going to let her lie like that?" He glanced with such anger at Mattie that she took a step backwards. "Mattie, you know-"
"Sheriff," Jim cut in. "Now we're being hospitable, even though the hour's getting late. But Jess is making it awful hard for us to stay friendly. Jess, you sure you ain't just got a grudge against me? I mean you wanted to draw against me tonight in the saloon. You can't deny that, can you?"
Jess started to speak but seeing Mort's look, he swallowed his words.
"Now, I said we're leaving," Mort said glancing at Slim and Jess. His stare returned to Mattie.
"I expect to see you in my office. Bright and early. And you tell Val to ride along. I got some questions for her too."
Jim asked, "What about Harper, Sheriff? Are you going to lock him up?"
Jess lifted his gaze to where Jim stood in the doorway of the cabin. Though Jess said nothing, his stare was threatening.
"Jess," Mort said, "I think you should ride back to Laramie with me tonight."
Jess's eyes narrowed to slits as his glare never left the doorway.
"You arresting Jess?" Slim asked, his voice thick with anger.
Mort replied with frustration, "I got half a mind to arrest the lot of you and-"
Without warning Jess jumped from his saddle, hitting Mort and knocking him off his horse just as a bullet whizzed by Mort's head. Slim dismounted in one easy move, then grabbed Mattie, pulling her away from the doorway.
"You fool!" Jim yelled as he backed into the house.
Jess and Mort ran for the water trough. Bullets dodging their feet as they raced for cover. Jess jumped over the water tank as Mort bolted around it. Both were panting hard. Jess explained, "I saw something move in the shadows just behind Jim. How many gunmen you reckon he's got in there?"
The light in the house went off.
But the moon's glow was bright enough to see the fear on Mattie's face as Mattie and Slim stood on the porch.
"Thorton's inside! He has Val! I had to lie! He swore he'd kill her!" Mattie was close to hysterics.
"I don't know about Charlie and Nick. They were in the bunkhouse. I heard shots. I think Jim killed our ranch hands. And-"
Slim held his finger to his mouth. Mattie quieted though panic was still in her eyes. Slim took her hand and led her to the far end of the porch. He glanced at the trees. Just a few yards of cleared land separated the house from the woods. He calculated how long it would take to run from the porch to the forest. How many seconds? Or would it be minutes? How long would a person be exposed to the side window? "Stay here," he whispered. "You should be safe. If I go down from a bullet and you see Jess get hit, you run for the woods and don't look back, no matter what you hear. You understand me?"
Her face paled so much that Slim was frightened she would faint. "I can shoot," she whispered.
"If I had an extra gun, I'd give it to you. But I don't." He smiled. "It's going to be all right, honey. You just stay here." Slim quietly moved towards the doorway of the house.
"Jim, give yourself up," Mort called out. "Let Val go. Right now all you've done is rustle some cattle. You don't want to be charged with murder too. It's a hanging offense."
"Already got that charge, Sheriff, in Colorado. I'll kill again unless you let us ride out of here."
Jess whispered to Mort, "You can't do that. He'll kill Val for sure once he's away from the house."
"I know that!" Mort snapped. For a long moment, Mort was thoughtful, then he yelled, "Jim, you hurt Val-you hurt a woman-and every man in this territory will be after your hide!"
Jim yelled back, "You ain't scaring me none, Sheriff. You better know, I will hurt her unless you let us leave now! You got a minute to decide. I got nothing to lose, Sheriff. I'd rather take a bullet here, than face the hangman's noose."
"Keep him talking," Jess whispered. He began inching his way towards the cabin.
At the same time, Slim slowly crept towards the front door. Finally there, Slim pressed himself as close as he could to the wooden frame of the house. Suddenly he moved into the doorway, his gun raised, ready to shoot. But he jumped back, as bullets flew out the door in rapid succession.
"Don't try it, Sherman! Sheriff, I'm trying to bargain. But if anyone tries getting in here again-"
"Relax, Jim," Mort answered.
"Your minute's about up. You going to let us ride out of here?" Jim asked.
Mort saw Jess make his way from the water trough to the corral, then ease his way to the porch. At last he was at the single pane window, which faced the front yard. Even with the window closed, Jess could hear movement inside. Jim was standing near the window. The window was large enough to see half a man's body. But the closed drapes prevented Jess from telling where Jim was in the room.
Worry lined Mort's face. "All right, Jim, you and Thorton, come on out."
"No, you throw down your guns first. Then we'll come out."
"How do we know that you won't kill us?" Mort asked.
"You'll have to take my word. Unless you want Val dead now. It's your decision, Sheriff. That minute's almost gone. What's it going to be? Us or Val?"
Mort stood up by the water trough. Jim didn't shoot him. Mort sighed a deep breath of relief, then tossed his weapon to the ground.
"Sherman...Jess...you too!" Jim ordered.
Slim moved to the front of the door, exposing himself to Jim. He kept his gun pointed down by his side. From this point of view, he could see Val. Jim had her in front of him as a shield. Thorton was standing close to Jim.
"Drop it, Sherman, or I swear I'll kill her," Jim warned.
Slim let go of his gun. The weapon hit the ground with a loud thump then lay at Slim's feet.
"How about Harper?" Jim demanded.
Mort answered, "Jess got hit. You don't have to worry about him."
"I don't believe him," Thorton siss. "He's lying."
Jim pointed his gun at Slim. Slim drew in his breath sharply.
"No!" Val screamed.
"Shut up!" Jim ordered. "Harper, I got my gun pointed right at Sherman's heart. You're like me, Harper. You ain't got many friends. You want this one to die? If not, you best show yourself now or Sherman's going to breath his last breath."
Jess' gun sounded loud as it hit the porch floor. Jim moved forward, forcing Val to walk ahead of him until they were standing in the doorway. Jim's arm stayed tightly around Val, but now his gun was only inches from Slim's chest. Slim was so close to Val that he could smell the vanilla she used for perfume. Jim looked to his side. Jess stood by the window, his hands raised in the air. "I should have kept them drapes open," Jim complained. But he had a look of satisfaction on his sun wrinkled face.
"We lived up to our bargain. Now ride out and leave those girls behind," Mort ordered
"Where's Mattie?" Jim demanded.
Slim glanced at the far end of the porch. Mattie stood there. Her face growing paler by the moment. He had hoped she would take the chance and run for the woods. But she just stood there as if tied. Even from this distance, he could see her body trembling. Slim said quickly, "Let her be. You got nothing to fear from her."
"Except she can shoot like a man!"
"She ain't got no gun," Jess stated.
"Come closer, Mattie, where I can see you better."
Mattie slowly moved forward. Jess' frown grew with each step she took. Finally she stood close to Jess. He could almost smell her fear as he watched the pulse in her throat beating rapidly. Her body was shaking as if icy water was flowing over her. Jess would have given his last dollar to see the fury again in her.
"Two pretty fillies." Jim said with a smile, drawing Val even closer to him.
The terror on Mattie's face was growing. Jess watched helplessly. Every few seconds, he moved ever so slightly until at last his body was shielding Mattie.
Jim ordered, "Thorton, get the horses."
Thorton eased himself around Jim. He started moving quickly towards the corral.
"And get four ready. We're taking the women with us," Jim added.
"Jim, you let them women go!" Mort ordered.
"Take me instead," Slim bargained.
Thorton turned with fury. "Them girls are going to slow us down!" Thorton protested.
"He's right," Slim said quickly. "They will slow you down. Take me as your hostage."
"These girls just might come in handy if we meet any law along the way," Jim explained.
"Jim, you hurt either one of them, and there ain't no place you can hide that I won't find you. And I'll keep looking until I do," Slim threatened.
"Don't do this, Jim! I swear you'll have every lawman on your trail," Mort warned.
"Jim?" Thorton questioned. "We got their guns. We can let the horses loose. They can't track us on foot. We'll be miles away by the time-"
"You best listen to Thorton," Mort advised. "You don't want them girls to get hurt. You'll never be safe if you do."
"Get four horses!" Jim snarled, his voice ugly with anger.
Thorton still looked as if he disagreed, but he turned quickly and almost ran to the corral.
"I knew he wouldn't keep his word!" Jess snarled. "He's too big of a polecat."
"Taking Val and Mattie wasn't part of the deal," Slim argued.
"Neither was killing you. But I'm going to kill you, Sherman, before I leave here. Have no doubt about that."
Slim's eyes widened with surprise.
"Jim, if you kill Slim then-" Mort began.
"Sheriff, they can only hang me once. Sherman's going to die before I leave here."
Jess said quickly, "Jim, don't!"
"Easy, Jess. I got something better planned for you. Sherman, you got anything to say before I pull this trigger?"
Jess started forward. Jim swung his gun so it was pointed at Jess.
"No Jess!" Slim cried out.
Jess stopped and raised his hands higher in the air. "You been bragging about how fast you are with that gun," Jess said quickly, then challenged, "Draw against me."
"Odds might not be in my favor. Poker taught me to not the play the odds."
"But you do, don't you?" Slim now challenged. "You take them girls and you kill Mort. Then you'll have every lawman on your trail until the day you die."
"Oh I ain't killing the Sheriff. I know better. Thorton was a fool to shoot at him. And Jess here, well I weren't lying when I said that I'm going to let him live. And pretty Val, well I can use some company on a long trail ride to Mexico. Be nice to break her in."
Val jerked, trying to escape but Jim gave her violent squeeze, forcing the breath out of her. Slim started to move forward. "Don't try it!" Jim warned. He loosened his hold on her, just enough so she could breath. She collapsed against him. "Val, remember I only need one woman to satisfy my needs. So you behave, or I'll tame Mattie instead of you."
"I'd rather die!" Mattie cried out.
"And you just might," Jim replied with a laugh. "Move away from Jess. I want to be able to see you good. That's it. I'll say one thing. These King woman got spunk don't they, Sherman? You done right not marrying this one." He gave Val another rough squeeze. "Oh, she told me all about it. So she was real easy to convince that you were the thief. She was so mad at you that she welcomed a fight between the ranches. Guess I'll have to teach her not to fight me."
"Jim, you don't want them on the trail with you. You're right they will fight you. You take me instead," Slim offered. "I'll go peacefully. And I'll behave myself."
"Sherman, you don't seem to understand. I'm going to kill you before I leave here," Jim explained. "You see I owe Jess. I figure the best revenge against him is to kill you. Like I said, Jess don't have many friends. And I figure you're the best one that he's ever had. Maybe the only real friend he's ever had." He looked at Jess out of the corner of his eye. "Right, Jess?"
"Your fight's with me. Not him! You shoot anyone, it should be me," Jess replied.
"I look forward to the day we do draw against each other. But I'll choose the time and the place. Until then, you keep looking over your shoulder."
"Should I watch my back too?" Jess asked.
Jim's eyes darkened. "That mouth of yours, Harper. You just won't learn. But not now. Someday, Harper. Someday."
"Why not now?"
"'Cause when you see Slim die, and you live with that pain-"
"You kill Slim, that someday will be real soon," Jess promised.
Thorton rode up, leading four horses. "Let's go!"
"Mattie, get on that sorrel," Jim instructed.
"No!"
"Jim, don't do this!" Mort warned.
Jim snarled, "Mattie, I don't really need two women along."
Jess turned his head quickly. "Go on, Mattie!"
"But Jess!"
"Do it!" Jess ordered.
"But-"
"For once in your life, don't argue. Get on that horse!" Jess snapped.
Mattie pressed her lips tightly together as she moved slowly off the porch. All eyes watched as she mounted the horse with expertise. Thorton kept hold of the reins. "Are you coming?" he snarled at Jim.
"Just as soon as I shoot Sherman. Val, you might want to close your pretty eyes."
"Please no!" Val cried out. "I'll do whatever you say. Just don't kill Slim! Please!"
"Too late, honey. I done decided."
"Jim, kill me instead!" Jess offered, taking a step forward. He raised his hands high in the air so nothing was shielding his chest. "It's my hide you want, not Slim's."
"No Jess!" Slim yelled out. "He's made his choice. Let it be."
"Think of Andy," Jess argued.
"You'll take good care of him, I know, and he's going to need you," Slim replied, then said to Jim, "You leave the others alone. I'll take the bullet."
Jim laughed. "Well ain't this noble. Them fighting on who's to die."
"Nobody's got to die," Mort argued. "You ride out now. Turn the horses in the corral loose. We can't follow you. Be hours before we get back into town."
"Naw, Sherman's got to die. After I lost that game yesterday, I thought a long time about it. You see I always get my revenge. Jess here shouldn't have made me look the fool." He glanced at Jess. "You did cheat at cards, didn't you?"
Jess gave a quick nod. But his gaze never left Jim's gun hand. "All the more reason to shoot me instead of Slim."
"I figured from that first hand you won that you were dealing off the bottom of the deck," Jim said. "You know me and Thorton would have left earlier today. Thorton argued with me about it. But I had to go to Laramie. I had to see if I could beat you in a fair game."
"And you lost!" Jess taunted. "Take me on in a gun fight. Maybe you'll finally win against me."
"I'm winning now. Just to see the look on your face when Sherman dies. To see it now," Jim laughed loudly. "Yeah, boy, you're scared, I can tell. Sherman he should be the one that's scared. You know, Sherman, I can kill where you'll feel no pain, or I can do it slowly. Which one do you think I'm going to choose?"
"You're crazy!" Jess shouted.
"Like a fox! I'm going to be in Mexico. And ain't no way the law is going touch me."
"But I will!" Jess swore.
"Oh, you can try. But I got money to buy friends, who'll look out for me. Not as much money as I had hoped for. Jess, you stopped us from getting rid of all the herd. Mattie told me how it was your idea to catch us. You've been a thorn in my side since I met you, boy. Now I told you that I was going teach you a lesson. Killing Sherman is one lesson that you're going to remember the rest of your life. And it's your own fault, boy. It's your own fault that Sherman is going die."
"Enough talk! I'm getting out of here!" Thorton turned his horse.
"All right, Thorton! Sherman, let's get on with it!" Jim's finger tightened on the trigger.
The sound of the window breaking caused Jim to swing around.
Slim grabbed Val and pushed her to the side.
Thorton started to draw his gun. Mattie kicked her horse hard, causing the sorrel to jerk its head. Thorton lost his grip on the reins. He fought to keep his own horse under control.
Mort rushed for his fallen revolver.
Jess rolled as he hit the cabin floor hard after his dive through the window. The drapes were trying to hold onto Jess, as he moved quickly across the floor, seeking shelter. Jim fired at Jess, once, twice, Jess cried out with pain. Jim swung his pistol around to fire at Slim. Slim's fingers were touching the butt of the gun that lay on the floor of the porch. "Don't try it!"
Slim froze. He looked up at Jim without moving a muscle. The gun was pointed right at his head
Thorton yelled out, "You too, Sheriff, unless you want me to pull the trigger." His gun was aimed at Mattie.
Mort halted in mid motion; his gun already cocked, the hammer pulled back ready to fire.
"I mean it, Sheriff!" Thorton warned.
Mort carefully eased the hammer of the revolver back into its non-firing position.
"Now drop it!" Thorton ordered.
Mort let go of the weapon. It fell to the ground.
"Kick the gun away, Sheriff," Thorton directed. "And put your hands high in the air where I can see them!"
Mort followed his instructions.
"Jim, get on with it, so we can get out of here!" Thorton ordered.
"Sherman, I told you that you were going to die!" Jim said with a chuckle. "And I always keep my promises." The gun fired at the same time the chair struck Jim. Jess had thrown the chair with all his strength. Jim's shot had gone wild, missing Slim. But the bullet Slim fired from his gun hit Jim in the heart. Jim collapsed in the doorway.
The sound of the horse galloping drew Slim's attention.
"Thorton's getting away!" Mattie screamed. She started to follow him.
Mort moved quickly, yelling, "Mattie, get out of the way!" He aimed his gun. Another foot and Thorton would be out of his pistol shooting range.
Slim raced for a horse.
Mort fired a shot.
Slim mounted and turned the horse heading in the direction of Thorton.
Thorton collapsed in his saddle then rode for a few feet before falling to the ground. Slim reined in his horse.
"Good shooting, Mort," Slim complimented.
Mattie jumped off her horse and raced to the window. Peeking through the glass, she gasped seeing the room. Jess was standing, breathing hard, broken glass all around him. A wrinkled drape laid near his feet.
"You hit?"
"Why? If not, do you want to have the pleasure of shooting me 'cause I'm on your property?" Jess replied, then slowly he grinned.
Val joined her. This time there was no anger on her face. "Jess, I said some pretty harsh things about you."
"About me and Slim," Jess acknowledged.
Val glanced at Slim. He and Mort were heading towards the porch. "You two all right?" Slim greeted.
"We're fine now," Val replied.
"Jess?" Slim called out.
Jess appeared in the doorway. "That drape kept me from running fast, but it also kept me from being cut with glass. Lucky for me that Jim's as bad a shot as he is a poker player." Jess suddenly noticed the hole in his jacket sleeve. He poked his finger through it. "Maybe he's a better shot than I figured 'cause he sure came mighty close."
"As long as you're all right," Slim stated, his glance closely scrutinizing Jess for any wounds.
But Mattie wasn't convinced. "I heard you cry out!" Her eyes too surveyed Jess closely.
"Aw, I tripped over that chair."
"Lucky for me you did," Slim acknowledged. And though no words were spoken, Slim gave Jess a nod of appreciation.
Jess left the house, moving close to the sisters. "What I can't figure is why didn't you come in tonight and tell Mort everything like we planned instead of confronting Jim?"
"That was my fault," Val admitted. "I was so angry at Slim that I guess I wasn't willing to listen to what Mattie had to say."
"Must be going around. Seems I did the same thing to a friend of mine earlier. Refused to listen to what he had to say," Slim said, his eyes catching Jess' stare.
Val explained, "Mattie told me about what you two saw. My temper got the better of me and I caught up with Jim just as he was riding off. A few seconds later and he would have been gone. When I told him about what Mattie had seen, he didn't hide it. Didn't even try to make an excuse. I told him to get off the ranch. He turned on both of us quicker than-" She shivered as if icy cold. She continued, "Well he tied us both up. Got Thorton to come back and stay with us. Jim told us how he purposely taunted Jess when he was leaving the saloon. He figured you two would show up sooner or later.
And he had it all planned out. The minute you rode up, he was going to shoot you. When Jim saw Mort ride in, you should have seen how worried Jim was. He just never figured that Mort would be riding along with you. I guess he didn't want to take the chance your three guns against his and Thorton. Jim would have let you ride out without a fight; but Thorton panicked."
The realization hit Jess hard. If Slim hadn't insisted. Now it was Jess' turn to give Slim a nod of appreciation for saving his life. "But what I don't understand," Jess questioned, again facing the sisters, "was why did Jim go to the Sheriff about locking me up if he wanted me to ride out here?"
Val explained, "He knew Mort wouldn't arrest you without Mattie's say so. He just wanted to get you angrier. He said that temper of yours would get you out here."
Mort shook his head with disbelief. "Most rustlers would have high tailed it out of the territory at the first sign of being caught."
"Jim probably would have too if his pride hadn't gotten in the way," Mattie spoke up. "Jim figured out that Jess was cheating at cards. And he wasn't about to let Jess get away with that. And like Jim said he always got his revenge."
Val wrapped her arms around herself as if cold. "It scares me to think what would have happened if you hadn't come along, Mort. We might all four be dead. After what Jim told you, he sure never figured you'd put any trust in Jess' word about the rustling."
"Jess, I owe you an apology," Mort held out his hand. "I didn't make it easy for you."
Jess slowly took hold of Mort's hand. "I understand, Sheriff."
"And it's Mort. Friends usually call each other by their first names." Mort offered Jess a smile.
"Mort," Jess repeated as he accepted the offer with his own smile.
"Sounds as if Mort needed some convincing to come out here tonight," Val remarked.
"Val, I was as stubborn as a mule about it," Mort admitted. "But Slim was pretty insistent."
"Yeah," Jess added, "it was all his idea to get Mort to come out here."
Val looked at Slim. Slim had been listening to the conversation but his eyes had stayed on her most of the time.
She moved close to Slim. "I guess besides my thanks, I owe you an apology. And I don't know how to say this except to just say it. I am so sorry for believing that you were a cattle rustler."
"I'm just glad it turned out the way it did," Slim said. He started to turn away, but she took hold of his hand.
"I owe you an apology for something else."
"Val, this trouble between us... I never thought it would get to where we couldn't talk."
"That was my fault."
"Mostly Jim's," Slim said. "I figured he egged you on."
"You're being kind. But it was me. And it wasn't just the cattle that you and I were fighting about. We both know that."
Slim nodded.
"By the way, speaking of cattle," Jess pulled out a wad of bills from the pocket of his jacket. He handed the money to Mattie. "Go on, take it. It's the money I won tonight. By all rights, it's yours. After all, Jim used the rustling money to bet with."
Mattie glanced at her sister. Both wore big smiles.
"Jess," Val began, but tears welled up in her eyes.
Mattie explained, "This should be more than enough to pay the mortgage this month."
"And even to have some left over to buy a dress," Jess said.
For a second Mattie's stare held Jess' stare. Mattie added, "I can't thank you enough. We weren't sure how we were going to come up with the money this month to pay the bank. We were close to losing the ranch. I sure am glad that I didn't shoot you that first day; but decided to wait."
Jess burst out laughing. Slim joined in. And the laughter became contagious.
