Blood Money
by Holly
Chapter Three
Mort turned and shouted, "He's just shot Parsons dead."
Jess nodded to indicate he had heard.
Parsons was a small time gambler, almost a permanent resident of the towns saloons. Jess had played a few hands with him in the past. Parsons had been honest, a rarity amongst professional gambling men. Most were out to fleece cowboys eager to spend their pay.
Jess cursed. The horse he had 'borrowed'was giving his all, but he wasn't Traveler, and soon began to slow. The fugitive was already out of sight after only a few miles, and they hadn't even reached the rugged country yet.
Jess looked across to Mort, who began to rein back.
"Okay, Jess. Give it up. I'll get back and telegraph Cheyenne. They can pick him up. That's the way he's headin'."
"I'll ride back with you, Sheriff...borrowed the horse. Might need you to make sure I don't get strung up for horse stealin'."
"Least I can do son. Thanks for the help."
Jess grinned. "No trouble. Just make sure you tell ol' Slim how I come to your rescue."
"Then, I guess you'll expect a nice fat pay rise, eh?"
Jess smiled ruefully. "I doubt it. Guess I'll just settle for a extra slice of pie come supper time."
As soon as they arrived back in Laramie, Jess was confronted by a angry citizen. "Sheriff, so pleased to see you've caught up with this no-good horse thief!" the man said angrily, trying to drag Jess from the horse.
Mort shook his head in disbelief. "No. No. You've got it all wrong Smithers. Jess only borrowed your horse in pursuit of a criminal. He was acting for me. He's my deputy." He turned to an amazed Jess. "Aren't you, Jess?"
"Eh?--oh sure--yes." Jess dismounted and handed the rein to Smithers, who still looked at him with suspicion.
"Well, if you say so Sheriff." He narrowed his eyes at Jess. "Next time, pick someone else's horse!" Smithers marched off indignantly.
Jess turned to Mort. "Thanks." He turned to go, only to have the Sheriff grab his sleeve.
"Wait up a minute, Jess."
Jess stopped and turned worried eyes to Mort Corey. "Yes?"
"Now don't look so worried, you aren't in trouble...are you?" he questioned as an afterthought.
"No."
"Good. What I was going to say was you did good there, pitchin' in like that."
"Wasn't nothin'."
"Helping the law is always something. I was gonna ask if maybe I could call on you again... if I need help?"
Jess frowned. He looked a bit like a trapped animal, Mort thought, as he waited for an answer.
"I'm sure you've got plenty law abidin' citizens willin' to help Sheriff. You don't need me."
"Sure, you saw 'em all riding out just then, didn't you Jess? Look let's cut to the chase, son. You and me both know exactly what you got up to before coming here. You are fast with a gun, damn fast. There are times that could be valuable to me. Whaddaya say? The pay isn't good, but it would be doing something to help this community as well as me."
Jess stood staring at his boots for a long time. Finally, he looked up and said quietly, "Mort, I've put my gun away. This here is a working gun, one I use to shoot the odd critter, maybe protect the relay station, but that's about it. I made a promise when Slim took me in, my gunfightin' days are over."
"I'm not asking you to break a promise to Slim..."
"It wasn't a promise to Slim. It was a promise I made to myself, Mort."
"Okay, but give it some thought, Jess."
Jess didn't answer. He slowly walked back to where Milly was waiting.
"I can't believe you did that!" she said.
"What?"
"Sided with Sheriff Corey."
"Well, it was kinda instinct, Mill. Something runs, and I give chase."
"Oh Yes! You do... Like when that hussy Clara came through town... You certainly chased her."
"Now don't keep goin' on about that. It was ages ago. Why I near 'nuff forgot about her."
"Still Jess, you sidin' with the law... Why the first time I saw you back in Texas, you was runnin' from it just like that fella today."
"That was a misunderstandin'."
"Yeah, if you say so. You know who you was chasin' down with Corey?"
"No, only that he killed Parsons."
"Parsons is dead?" She sounded stunned.
"Yes, so Mort said."
"He was a nice guy. I told him not to mix with Anders"
Jess stared down at her. "Anders?"
"It sure was." Milly looked worried. "Greg Anders used to be with the Carlin gang. I'd be real careful, Jess. He is real mean. If ever he knew you helped catch Bud, let alone given the law a hand to try catch him today, well, there's no knowin' what he'd do."
Jess thought for a moment then said, "I have something to see to, Mill." He vaguely promised to see her later in the week and watched as she continued up the street. She sure walked like a female.
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