The Texas Kid
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Seven
Fate has a way of changing even the best laid plans. And that�s what happened that very night. Mrs. Corey had just left the sheriff�s office. Jess was standing outside the sheriff office, looking at the town, but really thinking about Cecily. How could anyone think that he was a hero? He had been in too much trouble his entire life to think he was one. Why most decent females wouldn�t even talk to him. He had seen one or two cross the street just to avoid him.
He heard the crash inside the sheriff�s office. As he opened the door, a bullet whizzed past him.
He slammed the door open with his boot, then jumped back. More bullets flew.
�Mort?� Jess called.
�You want your Sheriff to stay alive, you�ll bring some horses around.�
Jess recognized the cowboy�s voice.
�How�d you get out?�
Mort finally answered. He sounded hurt. �Oh, I was thinking about Cecily when I opened the door to get the food tray. It was my stupid mistake. One an experienced Sheriff shouldn�t make and-� Mort grunted in pain.
�You hurt Mort and I swear I�ll hunt you down,� Jess threatened.
�You don�t want the Sheriff hurt, then you get us horses,� the cowboy bargained.
�Jess?�
Jess turned. Standing beside him in the shadows were two of the townspeople. Both had guns drawn.
�What can we do to help?� one of the townspeople asked.
�They over powered Mort. Harry, keep everyone off the streets.�
�Sure, Jess.� Harry took off running down the boardwalk.
Jess continued, �Mitch, go to the stable and get two horses.�
�Harper!� one of the cowboys called out. �You getting them horses?�
�We�re getting two now.�
�We want three. The Sheriff is riding with us!�
�No deal!� Jess shouted back.
�We ain�t stupid enough to jump on a horse and ride out. You could have a rifle on top of one of them buildings and pick us off easily.�
There went one of the plans that Jess was contemplating.
�Then take me,� Jess offered. �I�ll be your hostage. You let Mort go.�
Jess could hear voices, whispers, then, �Come on in, Harper. But leave your gun outside.�
�Jess, you can�t trust them,� Mitch whispered.
Jess replied, �I got a plan. You go get them horses and bring them here. Then you ride out one end of town and ask Mark to ride out the other. He should still be in the stable tending to the horses. Whichever way they go out, when we pass, you shoot them dead.�
�What about you? You�ll be in line of the fire.�
�I�ll jump and roll if I have to. Don�t worry about me. I�ll get out of the way as quick as I can.�
�I don�t like it, Jess. Too many things can go wrong.�
�What choice we got?�
�But going in there unharmed. Ain�t no guarantee that they�ll let you live. All they need is one hostage.�
Jess pulled the derringer and the knife from his boots. �I�m armed. All I need is one second of them not paying attention and I�ll get them outlaws.�
�Here. Take my knife.� Mitch handed him the weapon.
Jess slipped the knife in his boot along side the other knife.
�Can you walk with both of them?� Mitch asked.
Jess could feel the tips of the knives pressed against his flesh. He nodded. �As soon as you bring the horses around; ride out as fast as you can. Ain�t going to be much time before they leave here.�
�We�ll be right outside of town. Something goes wrong. We�ll trail you. We�ll get them.� Harry raced towards the stable.
Jess moved into the open doorway. He had his hands held high in the air.
Both cowboys studied him. �You were smart to leave your gun behind,� one of the cowboys sneered.
�Come on in, Harper. Join the fun,� the other cowboy invited.
Jess immediately saw Mort lying in a cell. He hurried to him. �Mort, you all right?�
�Yes!� Mort snapped. �Just feel like a darn fool that�s all.�
Jess examined Mort�s head. �They hit you hard with something.�
�The tray I was getting.�
�They getting them horses, Harper?� one of the cowboys asked.
Jess nodded. �You know for stealing it�s just jail time. But for murder, it�s a hanging offense.�
�We know. And we don�t plan for no one to get hurt unless you two plan different,� the second
cowboy answered.
�We�ll do what you say,� Jess promised. �Just tell us what.�
�Get them horses out front!� one of the cowboys snarled.
�I told you I sent someone. They�re coming. Takes time to saddle three horses. Can I get Mort onto the cot?�
One of the cowboys nodded. Jess helped Mort to his feet.
�I can walk,� Mort snapped. �I don�t need coddling.� Mort sat down on the cot. The lawman rubbed his head as if it was hurting.
The two cowboys moved to the windows. One kept glancing over his shoulder at Jess and Mort.
�You mind if I get some water?� Jess asked.
�Water! For what?�
�To clean Mort�s wound,� Jess explained. �You don�t want him bleeding to death.�
�Aw Jess, it�s only a scratch. Nothing to worry-�
Jess gave Mort a look that quieted the lawman�s protest.
�I could use some water if you fellows don�t mind,� Mort said.
�All right. Get some. There�s the bucket but Harper, I�m not forgetting how you like to use that as a weapon. You just dip that bandana around your neck into the water and take that back to him. He ain�t going to need the bucket.�
Jess untied his bandana. �Mine�s awful dirty. Mort, let me untie yours.�
Mort watched Jess carefully.
The three horses being tied to the hitching post drew the two cowboys� attention away from Mort and Jess. No one saw Jess slip Mort the extra knife. Jess moved to the bucket.
�We can move out now,� one of the cowboys said.
�Better let me take care of Mort�s head wound. If not you�re going have trouble on the trail,� Jess said.
Jess moved to the bucket of water.
�Easy now, Harper. You don�t want me to shoot you.�
�Just getting the bandana wet. That�s all.� Jess soak the cloth then started back to Mort. Suddenly he grasped his stomach as if in pain.
�What the-Harper, what�s wrong with you?�
�I don�t know. I ate...� he moaned loudly. He bent over, moaning in pain.
�Well go see what�s wrong!� one of the cowboys snapped, then looked back out the window. �I�ll watch the street in case this is a trick!�.
�Harper!� the cowboy moved to Jess. Jess reacted as quick as a panther. He stabbed the man in the gut. The cowboy keeled over, clutching his stomach, dropping his gun.
�Jack!� The second cowboy aimed his gun at Jess.
Mort threw the knife and it hit the cowboy�s shoulder but it didn�t stick into him, it didn�t even cut him. But it did cause a distraction and gave Jess just enough time to grab for the fallen gun. Mort jumped off the cot as the cowboy fired a bullet at Mort. The cowboy swung his gun towards Jess with a warning, �Don�t-� Jess paid no attention as he shot the revolver then fell to the floor and rolled. He fired two more shots. The cowboy by the window dropped. He was severely wounded. His gun lay several feet away. The cowboy, though, was too hurt to even try to get the gun. He just lay there moaning with pain.
Mort stood up. �You all right?�
Jess nodded. �Wait a minute! Here Mort!� Jess tossed the gun to Mort just before the sheriff�s office filled up with people, including Mrs. Corey and Cecily.
�Mort, are you all right?� voices rang out.
�Jess?� other voices asked.
�Mort, are you all right?� Mrs. Corey moved to Mort, her eyes searching his face.
Mort glanced down at the gun. �Yeah thanks to-�
�Mort�s quick thinking,� Jess explained.
Cecily stood beside Jess. She glazed up at him with hero worship sparkling in her eyes.
�Why Miss Cecily, I ain�t never seen anything like it,� Jess began. �Mort here could have taught the Texas Kid a thing or two. If it weren�t for him, I�d be lying there dead right now. But your Uncle single handedly fought off them two bad outlaws. Without any help from me. Your Uncle is some hero. He saved my life.�
�Really, Uncle Mort?� the girl eyed her Uncle with a respect that he had never seen.
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