The Texas Kid
by Patricia Henry
Epilogue
The stage pulled into the relay station. Jess opened the door then forced himself not to back away.
Cecily stepped down from the coach followed by her mother. Cecily only mumbled a quick hello to Jess then moved to Slim.
Mrs. Corey looked amused. �I�m afraid that she�s lost all interest in the Texas Kid, Jess.�
Jess smiled with relief. �Now who is she hero worshiping-oh no!� He grinned at Slim.
Slim�s voice carried, �Who is the Wyoming Kid?�
Cecily explained, �He moved out West to hide his identity. Sam Shurman. But the Military often calls on him to help them out when spies are attempting to tear our nation apart.�
�Slim, you served for a spell in the military,� Jess stated, moving close to Slim.
�That was during the war,� Slim snapped.
�The Wyoming Kid did too!� Cecily said. �Slim, which side?�
�Well...the Union but-�
�So did the Wyoming kid!� Cecily exclaimed. �And he was blonde like you.�:
�I bet he had a horse too,� Jess said with a grin. �What�s his name?�
�Amigo.�
�Well there you go!� Jess stated.
�You know I don�t have a horse named Amigo. It�s Alamo,� Slim clarified.
Jess answered. �Both names start with an A. And I reckon if the Wyoming kid changed his own name not to be noticed, then he�d have to change his horse�s name too. That horse would be well known. It could give his true identify away. Don�t you think, Slim?�
�Jess, you want to know what I�m thinking?� Slim snapped.
�And I bet the Wyoming kid is a good shooter. Can really handle a gun?� Jess asked.
�Jess...� Slim said low, his voice sounding threatening.
Cecily nodded. �A rifle. They call him the Rifleman.�
�Did Slim tell you at the last fourth of July celebration, he won the turkey shoot �cause he was so good with a rifle? Right Rifleman?�
Slim bit his lip hard.
Cecily moved close to Slim, so close that he backed away.
She said, �I was thinking. When I get home, I could write.�
�Write?� Slim repeated. �To me?�
�And you could write back. Couldn�t you? You do know how to write, don�t you? I mean some in the West don�t.�
�Oh Slim is a good letter writer, aren�t you, Slim?� Jess informed. �He�s had schooling. Not like me, who just barely finished the fifth grade.�
�Jess, if you don�t keep quiet...�
�Sure thing, Sam...I mean Slim.�
Mose called down from the stage. �Slim, sure is interesting to know that we got us a genuine hero staying here. If I see any spies, I�ll send them your way.�
Slim threw Mose a glance that would have frightend most men but Mose only laughed. �Ladies, it�s time to board.�
Mrs. Corey shook Jess� hand. �Thank you for being so kind to my daughter.�
�My pleasure, ma�am.�
�Slim, thank you too.�
�Yes ma�am.�
�Cecily, come along. The stage is ready to leave.�
Jess helped Mrs. Corey into the stagecoach.
�Well, Slim, I guess this is goodbye.� Cecily had tears in her eyes.
Slim looked relieved.
�But I�ll be back next summer to visit my Uncle Mort. I�ll plan on seeing you then. We can have a picnic.�
�A picnic?� Slim repeated.
�Goodbye.� She closed her eyes and puckered.
Slim looked shocked.
Jess grinned. �Ain�t you going to say goodbye, Slim?�
Slim looked for help from Mrs. Corey. But she was already seated in the coach. Slim kissed Cecily�s cheek. �Goodbye.�
She opened her eyes and smiled.
�Cecily!�
�Coming Mama!� She boarded the stage. �Bye Sam and Jack! See you next summer! And you can tell me all about your adventures of saving this nation and-�
Mose yelled at the horses and they took off in a gallop.
Cecily waved from the open stage window until the stage was out of sight.
�You know, I think I was a better hero than you,� Jess remarked. �After all, I could shoot a six bullet gun with eight bullets. Can you do that?�
�No. But I can save an entire nation. You just saved one female.�
�But I fought off ten men at one time. Without a gun, using only my bare fists. And never got one cut on me.�
�But can you be a spy? Not with that big mouth of yours.�
Jess laughed. �What do you say we take a break from being a hero and spend the rest of the day fishing?�
�Well after saving the nation and fighting all those bad outlaws, I think we deserve a rest.�
�And who knows, maybe a pretty female will come by that needs saving.�
�I don�t know, Jess. Seems to me that�s how you got us both branded as heroes. By rescuing that gal off the stage.�
�I�ll make you a deal. Any stage that comes by that needs rescuing, we�ll let Mort play the hero.�
Slim nodded with a smile. �Well what are we waiting for? Let�s get to the stream. Them fish are just waiting to be caught.�
�All right, Sam.�
Slim laughed. �Then let�s go, Jack. We don�t want to keep them fish waiting.�
And that�s just what they did, they rode out to the stream and caught fish.
The End
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