Minutes had turned into an hour. Now a second hour was quickly approaching. Inside the cabin they waited tensely.
�What do you think is happening out there?� Claire asked once more.
Em sighed with impatience, then commanded, �You need to get back to Jess.�
�I told you he�s sleeping.�
�He might need you.�
�If he does, I�ll go to him. He�s just over there. I can see him from here. It�s no point me sitting there because he�s sleeping. It�s not like we can talk. So as long as he�s sleeping��
�More like he�s dying,� Tom interrupted. �Which is what we�re all going to do if we don�t give up.�
Em argued, �Slim might��
�Fool plan!� Tom snarled.
�Don�t be so sure�� Em began.
�I betcha Slim got through,� Mose said. �Yes sir, I bet he�s sneaking up right now on that hombre out there and��
�You in the cabin. I got this one here.� At the edge of the forest, a man stood. Slim stood in front of him.
If Em had been a better shot she would have fired. But she feared she would hit Slim instead of the man.
The man pushed Slim, and Slim fell face down on the ground. The man continued, �I only want Harper. This man here needs medical attention. You come out of the cabin, and I�ll let you get on the stage and ride off. I ain�t wanting to hurt anyone. I only want Harper to pay for what he�s done to my brother.�
Slim never moved; he just lay there.
�Now we got no choice,� though Tom had spoken in a whisper, his voice filled the cabin.
Em faced him, pointing the gun at him. �You�re wrong. We got a choice. We stay inside and fight.�
�Be sensible, Miss Stevens,� Tom cooed.
But her face clearly showed that she wasn�t buying his words.
Tom took a step towards her; then took another step. �You going to kill me, Miss Stevens?� Tom challenged.
�If I have to.� Em pulled back the hammer.
Though Tom immediately stopped walking, he shook his head doubtfully. �I don�t think so.�
�Are you willing to risk your life on that bet?�
Tom sighed. �Be realistic. How many bullets do you have left?�
Em replied, �Enough to stop you from leaving.�
�And after you do, are you going to have enough bullets to also fight off that man out there? What good is killing me when you won�t have any bullets left to fight that man outside? Be realistic. You think killing me is going to help? Look at Harper. Pale and weak. He�s practically a dead man. I doubt he�ll last �til morning.�
Claire moved close to Em. �Tom�s right. We have no choice. I don�t want to give Jess up either. But what choice do we have? At least this way we all don�t die. And Jess...well he does look
very weak.�
�How do you even know that you can trust him?� Em argued. �Look at Slim. He�s hurt.�
�Miss Stevens, we got no choice,� Tom argued back. �We got to trust him. We can�t stay here that�s for sure. Not with... how many bullets you got left? I counted you fired four times. That leaves two bullets. You�re not that good a shot, not that he�s going to show himself to give you a clear shot. We got to give up and hope this man�s not lying to us.�
�No!� Em replied as her fingers tightened on the gun.
�Em,� Jess called out, his hoarse voice barely a whisper, but Em heard.
She moved quickly to Jess while still keeping the gun pointed at Tom. �Jess, you�re awake! How do you feel?�
�I�ve been listening. He�s got Slim, don�t he?�
Em said nothing.
�Don�t he?� Jess barked.
Em only nodded.
�You got to give up.�
�He might not want witnesses��
�No. He only wants me. He�ll make tracks as soon as he kills me. Once I�m dead, he�ll hightail it to the border.�
�Jess�� Em began to argue.
�He ain�t going to shoot no woman. Not in this territory. He�d be hunted for the rest of his life.
And he ain�t got no need to kill Mose and Tom. He could have killed Slim but he only roughed him up. I heard him talk. Slim needs medical attention.�
�But Jess-�
�Now Em, you listen to me. And you listen good. Slim needs help. Ain�t no need to stay with me and watch me die when you could save Slim. I would have been dead a long ago, probably from the hangman�s noose, if it weren�t for Slim. Now I�m repaying the favor. So you do as I say. I�m telling you to give up. He�s letting you leave, so leave. I don�t want two women and my best friend dying �cause of me. I know I�m in bad shape. Go on, Em. Tell him you�ll surrender.�
Claire grasped Jess� hand and squeezed hard.. �I do love you, Jess Harper,� she whispered. She walked to the window and yelled out, �We�re coming out.�
Tom didn�t wait for the women. He walked quickly out of the cabin. He stood in the yard. He opened his jacket. �You can see that I�ve got no weapon." Tom then raised his hands high in the air. "I'm no threat to you. What's between you and Harper is between you two. It's none of my concern. You said we could leave.� Beads of sweat dotted Tom�s forehead as he faced this man.
The man only nodded.
Tom moved to the stage.
�Your friend here?� He nodded towards Slim. �Don�t you want to take him along?�
Tom didn�t move.
Inside the cabin, Claire turned to Em. �Coming?�
�No.�
�But you can�t stay. He may kill you.�
�Maybe,� Em said. �Get Slim on that stage.�
�Em, I know we�ve had our differences. But you have to come with me. It�s your only chance.�
�Get Slim on that stage now!� Em ordered.
Claire nodded.
Jess started to say goodbye but Claire fled out the door without even glancing back. She joined Tom. �Get him,� was all she said.
Tom still didn�t move.
�Get him or you won�t have a career in banking,� Claire snarled.
Tom moved quickly and dragged Slim roughly to the stage.
�Mose,� Jess called.
�I�m right here, boy.�
�You take care of Slim. I know he�s hurt.�
�Jess, I can�t leave you. You�re my friend.�
�So is Slim.�
�And I can�t pick between the two of you.�
�You don�t have to, Mose. I�m doing the choosing. I want you to drive him out of here. Now git �fore that fellow out there changes his mind.�
Mose hesitated.
�You got to leave, Mose! Tom can�t drive a team. You know that. You got to do this, Mose. I�m asking. Go on! Now!�
Mose patted Jess�s arm. Turning to Em, he asked, �You sure about staying?�
She answered �yes� while at the same time Jess answered, �no.�
�Go on, Mose,� Em said softly. �Jess is right. Slim needs a doctor, and we don�t want that man changing his mind.�
Mose lowered his head, but Em had seen the tears. Mose turned and walked out the cabin. As the man watched, Mose climbed to the stage seat.
While keeping his eye on Mose, the man offered his hand to Claire. She allowed him to help her inside the stage. �There was another woman,� he said.
�She won�t leave Jess,� Claire explained.
He said under his breath, �Fool woman.�
�You won�t kill her?� Claire pleaded her brow creased with worry.
