The relay station wasn�t as nice as Slim�s place. It was clean though. And the food, though not very tasty, was hot. On such a cold day, its warmth was heartily welcomed by all, even Claire who had balked seeing the greasy meat and lumpy potatoes. The gravy had been so thick with flour that white mounds could be seen. The coffee though had been good. Claire had dominated the lunch conversation with descriptions of restaurants in New York City.
After lunch, Em has politely thanked Joe, who single handedly ran the station. Claire had not even said goodbye.
As they headed back towards the stage to board, a gunshot roared loudly. Jess fell to the ground, the bullet lodged in his chest.
�Jess!� Claire and Em both screamed at the same time.
Slim drew his gun as he yelled at the women. �Get inside.�
Claire picked up her skirts and ran towards the cabin. Em also lifted her skirts, but she raced towards Jess. She knelt. �Jess?� she called out.
He blinked. Slim joined her, his eyes moving, surveying all around him.
Another gunshot sounded. The bullet hit the ground so close to Slim and Em that they felt the dirt splash against their faces. Em screamed. Slim growled, �Get inside now.� He fired off a round from his colt, aiming where he thought the bullet had been fired. Then he picked Jess up, throwing him over his shoulder and raced towards the cabin.
Mose had managed to stop the team of horses from running away. He reached the cabin the same time that Slim did.
Tom opened the door for them then slammed it. �Who would be attacking us?� he demanded.
�Here Slim.� Joe directed Slim to a cot that rested against the back wall. The sheets were stained but Slim didn�t hesitate as he lowered Jess to the cot.
�Slim?� Jess began.
�Easy Jess. Let me look.� Slim pulled back Jess� shirt.
�Oh gosh!� Claire screamed. �Oh Jess!�
Slim threw her a look that silenced her in her tracks.
�It�s bad, ain�t it?� Jess mumbled.
�I�ve seen worse,� Slim lied. �Bullet�s in there and needs to come out.�
Jess nodded.
�Joe, I�ll need a knife.�
�Sure, Slim. Get it right for you. And some whiskey to clean the knife.�
�How about bandages?� Em asked, her face slightly pale.
Joe apologized, �I ain�t got any clean-�
�A slip will do.� Em looked at Claire. Claire never moved. Em suddenly raised her skirt and tore several sections from her undergarment. She moved to Slim. �What can I do to help?�
Slim took the offered material. �You just did. I�m going to need more light if I�m going to dig that bullet out.�
�I�ll get another lantern.�
The round of bullets drew everyone�s attention to the window. Slim pulled back the curtain. �I think it�s just one person.�
�What does he want?� Claire questioned. �We don�t have any money.�
Slim wondered the same as he called out loudly, �What do you want? We ain�t hauling a strongbox.�
The man answered, �Harper.�
Slim glanced over at Jess. �Sound familiar?�
Jess shook his head no.
Slim called out, �Why-�
�Two months ago. Harper arrested my brother. He never made it back to the jail. Harper hunted him down like an animal. Then gunned him down. Collected a nice reward too, so I hear. I come to settle up with him. My name�s Wayne Matthews.�
Jess choked out the words, �He�s talking about Jack Matthews. Gave me no choice. When Mort was gone, I��
�I remember,� Slim cut in. He yelled to the gunman, �Your brother drew on Jess.�
�My brother shouldn�t have died because he stole some cows.�
�Your brother killed a rancher outside of Laramie when he was stealing them cows.�
�That was an accident!� the gunman argued. �My brother was only seventeen. Just a kid.�
�Kid or no kid, he committed murder�� The bullet hitting the window frame stopped Slim from speaking as glass sprayed in the room. Slim moved to Joe. �How much ammunition do you have?�
�Ain�t been to town in awhile. Got a squirrel gun loaded for deer. And my pistol has one round.�
�Mose?�
The old stage coach driver shook his head. �Got a shotgun, but it�s on the stage. Sure wish I had ole Betsy here with me now.�
Slim informed, �I�ve only got this gun. Jess� gun dropped out of his holster out front. Tom, what about you?�
�I�m a banker, not a killer,� Tom growled.
Slim ignored his comment. �How about water?�
�Unless we can get to the well, just what�s in the bucket,� Joe informed.
�We�ll need to use that for Jess,� Slim remarked as he tried to plan what to do.
�Now hold on, Sherman,� Tom protested. �We�ll need that water to drink.�
�Jess needs it more,� Slim shot back.
�You got to think of the ladies,� Tom argued.
�Mr. Baxter, we�ll be fine,� Em said.
Claire glanced worriedly at each of them, never voicing her opinion.
�Slim, what do you want us to do?� Em asked, turning her back on Tom.
�I need to get that bullet out. The longer it stays in, the worse off Jess will be. Joe, you stand guard at the window. Don�t fire unless he comes in sight.�
�Sure thing, Slim.� Joe hurried to the window, clutching his rifle.
�How about me?� Mose asked. �I ain�t got no gun, but there must be something I can do.�
�Go in the back room and watch that window. Don�t want him sneaking around the house and catching us by surprise.�
�Sure thing, Slim.�
�Mose!� Joe tossed him his extra gun. �You might need that.�
Mose nodded, then said softly to Slim, �And Jess...well, he�s going to be fine. I just know it.� Mose�s eyes swept over Jess before he hurried away.
Slim glanced from one woman to the other. He made a quick decision. �Claire, since you and Jess are-� he stopped as he saw pain cross Em�s face. �Why don�t you help me, Claire, with Jess� wound?�
�Uh, of course, Slim,� Claire said, but she didn�t move closer.
Em handed Claire the lantern. �You�ll need this.�
Claire nodded.
Slim glanced at Claire. �Well what are you waiting for? You can hold the lamp near me as I get the bullet out.�
�Well sure but-� Claire smiled weakly, �I�m not much good at doctoring.�
�All you have to do is hold the lamp. Tom, you hold his legs down.�
�You take care of him by yourself,� Tom said. �Harper ain�t nothing but an ex-gunfighter who��
Slim moved so quickly to Tom that the others gasped.
Slim said in a quiet but deadly voice, �Now you listen here. I need your help, and you�re going to help me, or I�ll drop you where you stand.� Slim pulled his gun, pointing it at Tom.
�You can�t be serious.�
�Oh, but I am. I can�t do this without your help. Joe can�t do this �cause I�m thinking he�s a better shot than you. So get over there now! And you do exactly as I say.�
Tom obeyed. But as he moved towards the cot, he said angrily, �I�m reporting all this to the stage line supervisor and��
�You go right ahead,� Slim growled.
Despite his anger, Slim was extremely gentle as he helped Jess sit up in bed. Slim�s arm provided the support that Jess needed. He offered Jess a huge drink of whiskey. Slim was even more gentle as he helped Jess lay back down on the cot. Slim then took a large swallow himself. He poured the remainder over the knife and his hands. �All right, partner, hold on. I�ll do this as quickly as I can.�
As Slim pushed back the flesh to expose the bullet, Claire gagged. She stepped backwards, her eyes closed tight. Em grabbed the kerosene lamp out of her trembling hands and moved close to Slim. Slim smiled at her. �That�s it, hold it right there.�
Em swallowed hard to push back her own bile. But she never moved away. She stood there, her face turning pale, her eyes watering.
�I�m sorry,� Claire mumbled as she sat down heavily at the table. �I so wanted to help but seeing all that blood...I�m so sorry.�
No one responded as Slim began ministering to Jess� wound.
