It had taken longer than Slim had anticipated, but the bullet was out. As he wrapped the last bandage around Jess, the blood finally stopped flowing. Slim had been thankful that Jess had surrendered to unconsciousness long ago.
�You did a good job,� Em complimented.
�I don�t know,� Slim said worriedly as he stood and stretched. �That bullet was in deeper than I thought. He�s awful weak. I ain�t no doctor, and he needs one.�
�He�ll pull through,� Em replied, but her face betrayed her words.
�Here�s some coffee,� Claire said handing Slim a cup so hot that steam was ascending.
�How do you feel?� Slim asked.
�Better.� Claire smiled showing dimples. �I never could stand the sight of blood.�
Slim took a sip. �Good. Very good.� Slim nodded his cup towards Em. �I think Em could use a cup too. After what she�s gone through.�
�Oh sure. Em, can I get you some?� Claire offered.
�No.� Em sat down at the table, taking the end chair so she would be facing Jess. Her eyes never left his face.
Claire sat across from her. Her back to Jess.
The gunshots drove all to seek safety. Claire screamed as bullets ricocheted off the walls. Slim grabbed her, shielding her body with his own,
Joe fell back from the window. He was dead before he hit the floor.
Suddenly the bullets stopped. Slim slowly stood, pulling Claire to her feet. Claire�s face was so pale that Em pushed a chair towards her. Claire sat as if her legs would no longer support her.
Slim surveyed the room. Both windows were shattered. And the door was filled with bullet holes.
�Send Harper out. I don�t care about the rest of you,� the man bargained.
�Sherman, we�re no match for him,� Tom cried out. �It�s better one man dies instead of all five of us. �Sides he ain�t going to pull through. I say give Harper to him. Think of the women.�
�I�m not giving Jess to him,� Slim said angrily as he moved to the window. He pulled Joe�s body away from the window.
�You can�t just leave him there dead,� Claire protested. �Please, do something with him.�
Slim�s eyes traveled the length of the room. But Em moved before he had the chance. She covered Joe�s face with several dish rags.
Claire began crying softly.
�Hush up!� Em said more sharply than she meant to.
�Maybe you�re not scared,� Claire yelled out, �but I am! We�re going to die. We�re all going to die!�
�Nonsense,� Em answered.
But Slim wasn�t so sure. He turned away to hide his worry. �Mose!�
There was no answer.
Slim raced to the back room. Seconds later he returned with a wounded Mose.
Along his shoulder, Mose�s worn shirt was blood soaked. �It�s only a flesh wound, Slim. I reckon I�ll live.�
But Slim knew Mose wouldn�t be able to use that arm for awhile. �At least it looks like the bullet went clean through.�
�You leave me be, Slim. You got more important things to do than tend to me. Looks like old Joe didn�t make it. How about Jess? He still doing fine?�
Slim nodded.
�Mose, let me bandage that,� Em offered as she gently began administering to Mose.
�Thank you, Miss Em. Thank you kindly,� Mose said with a smile.
Slim checked Joe�s rifle. Joe had fired back during the last gunfire. There were no bullets left. Slim pulled from his waistband the gun that Joe had given Mose. Mose had not fired. So there was still one round left. Slim had five bullets in his gun. Eleven bullets to fight their way out of this.
�You know how to shoot?� Slim asked.
Tom nodded no.
�I do,� Em said as she held out her hand.
�I don�t like putting a woman by that window,� Slim said.
Mose started to stand, �Slim, I could try��
�Not with that arm, Mose.�
�Slim, you don�t have a choice.� Em took the gun. �Claire, sit with Jess. His forehead is broken out with sweat. Wipe it off.�
�With what? You used the last water. And the cloths you used over Joe�s-� Claire swallowed hard.
�Then just use your dress. I�m sure your father will buy you another one.�
Claire�s face turned ugly. �You never did like me, did you? You�re so jealous. First because I was able to get an education at boarding school and then because of Jess. You loved him but he only loved me and��
Em started forward her hand raised to hit Claire.
�Em!� Slim shouted.
She stopped in her tracks.
�Mose, you best go back and stand guard at the window. Yell out if you see any movement.�
Mose nodded. �Miss Em, I reckon Jess is mighty lucky to have you here.�
Claire eyed Mose with cold contempt. But she didn�t speak. She only kept her glaze locked on Mose until he left the room.
�I got an idea,� Slim said. He moved to Em. She was shaking badly. He smiled at her. He glanced at Claire. �Well, go help Jess. He needs you.�
Claire moved quickly to the wounded man. She sat stiffly in the chair beside the bed. She didn�t touch Jess. She didn�t speak. She just watched him.
Slim looked down at Em. �We can wait until the stage line figures something is wrong,but that could be hours. Maybe even a day before they send someone out looking for us. I�ll bet my last dollar there�s only one man out there. I�m thinking I�ll sneak out the back window, and try to circle around, and get the drop on him.�
�That�s a dangerous notion you got Slim,� Em protested.
�You got a better idea?�
She shook her head no.
�Well I do,� Tom spoke up. �Look at Harper. He�s not going to last. And we don�t have enough ammunition to fight. We got no choice. If we want to live, we got to give Harper up. It�s the only way. Give Harper to him. That man out there don�t want us. He just wants Harper. I say give Harper to him.� Tom glanced from person to person. �It�s our only way out. Slim, you said yourself, it could be a day before they send someone out. And what�s to say that man out there won�t decide to burn us out? He�s not going to sit out there and wait. Not for long he ain�t �cause he knows the stage line is going to come looking for us eventually. Now he�s willing to let us leave. There�s no reason we should all die when Harper is going to die anyway. If there was a chance Harper would live� but look at him. Pale...weak. I tell you he ain�t going to make it. So give him up. Better one man die than five.�
�Mr. Baxter, you�re no man. You�re a coward,� Em branded, her glare harder than her words.
Tom replied, �No ma�am, only being realistic. I don�t figure on dying for a man that�s soon to be dead.�
Slim barked, �No one�s giving Jess up. Or giving up on Jess. If my plan works��
�If,� Tom countered. �And Sherman, that�s a mighty big if.�
Slim took a deep breath to chase away his anger. �Em, when I give the signal, you fire off
four of them bullets. That�ll divert his attention long enough for me to sneak out the back window. You make sure you save two of them. Just in case this man ain�t truthful.� Slim glanced at Claire. �You know what I mean?�
Em�s eyes opened wide with understanding. She nodded. Her hand was slightly shaking.
Tom also caught the jest of his words. �You taking that gun with you?� Tom asked.
�I�ll need it,� Slim replied.
�That leaves us with one gun. How come you get a gun all to yourself? You sure you ain�t just thinking of yourself and planning on running away��
Slim moved so quick that he caught all by surprise. He pushed Tom hard against the wall. �Now you listen, and you listen good. Jess is my partner. I wouldn�t leave him here to die. And I sure wouldn�t leave these ladies. We got one chance and that�s to catch this man by surprise. I aim to do that by sneaking around behind him and catching him off guard. I�ll need this gun if I get close enough to shoot him. And I will shoot him dead. And anyone who tries to stop me!� Slim let loose of Tom.
Tom opened his mouth to speak. But seeing the anger on Slim�s face, Tom instead nodded curtly. Quickly, he turned away and moved several feet from Slim.
�Em, Mose will signal when I�m ready.� Slim faced Mose. �Mose, let me get the window open.� Mose stood in the doorway of the back room as Slim moved to the window.
Em crouched by the front window. She held the gun with both hands. Moisture formed on her brow.
Slim blew out the lantern so the room was pitch black. Mose heard Slim�s quiet
whisper. �I�m ready.�
Mose�s voice was soft, �Em.�
Em glanced over her shoulder. �Ready?�
Mose gave a quick nod.
The gun was heavy for her. But she pointed the weapon and began firing. Slim eased himself out of the back window, then bolted for the closest group of trees.
The man immediately returned the fire. As bullets slammed into the frame, Em quickly backed away from the window.
