The Way Home

Jess held on to Tuck�s mane and tried to sit as straight as he could, but I could tell his ribs hurt and his head musta hurt real bad. He didn�t talk much and I was kinda worried, but we couldn�t stop now. We had to get as high up in the hills as we could before dark.

After I�d walked, leadin� Tuck for several hours, I finally had to ride some. My dogs was barkin� and stoppin� fer a spell wasn�t in the cards. I pulled Tuck up beside an old log and used it to haul myself up behind Jess. I wasn�t worried about Tuck. He was the biggest and strongest horse I ever saw. He could handle another pair of us on him with no trouble. My throbbin� feet were jumpin� fer joy.

Bein� late fall, it got dark early so we had to stop. We found a small clearing in the middle of a forest of pines. There was a bit of grass, or at least something that looked like it. After Jess and me climbed down, Tuck wandered over and started nibblin�. Tuck was fine on his own. He was like a big dog- followed me everywhere, so I knew he wouldn�t wander off. I helped Jess over to a fallen log and eased him down onto the soft ground. I took his hat off him and laid it on the log. He was breathin� kinda hard, like he�d just run. I was kinda worried about that. I needed to get us some supper cooked up. We didn�t stop for lunch except to eat a couple of apples.

I saw Tuck over in the little meadow nearby so I called him back. He still had our supplies on his back.

�Tuck! C�mere boy. I need you.�

I saw Tuck raise his head and prick his hears up. Then he started trotting towards us.

Jess looked up startled, watching Tuck coming into camp. I had to chuckle at the look on his face. Guess he never saw a dog-horse before.

�You teach him to do that?�

Tuck came right up to me and stuck his muzzle in my hand looking for an apple. �Naw. He just comes by it natural. I think he�s more dog than horse. He and Mike used to get along like litter-mates. I think he really misses Mike.� I rubbed Tuck�s neck, then went around and fetched the supplies off his back.

I brought the two bags over beside Jess and set them on the ground. Tuck was still hanging around, so I took out an apple and give it to him. �Okay, now go on back to your grazin�.� Tuck looked at the bags on the ground while he chewed. �No. Later. Now git.� He turned and trotted off, back to his patch of grass.

Jess was shaking his head. �That�s the derndest thing I ever saw.�

I started walking around picking up sticks and stuff for a fire. �Aw that ain�t nothin�. You shoulda seen Mike with him. Mike would take Tuck for walks by hisself. He�d even ride up on his back sometimes. They was like two peas in a pod.� Talkin� about Mike was getting� me a bit misty, so I changed the subject.

�How�s your head feel?�

Jess reached up and rubbed it. �I�ll live, I reckon.� He shifted a little and then laid back against the log. �Why�d you help me, Macy?�

I figgered I better let him know the whole thing. ��Cause I overheard Jake and Early this mornin�. They wasn�t plannin� on lettin� you stand trial or anything. I think they was gonna lynch you. Maybe even make it look like you done it yerself. I can�t figger why they didn�t do it this morning.�

�They wanted something.�

�What do you mean?�

�They thought I knew where some money was hidden. Said something about a box and a payroll. I don�t remember. I was pretty hazy.�

I felt bad, but I had to ask. �Do you know anything about that, Jess?�

He looked me right in the eye. �No, Macy. I don�t even know what they were talkin� about. They also said I killed a sheriff.� He was getting tired, I could tell, but he looked like he really needed to talk it out. �Macy, I ain�t even seen another soul besides Abe for almost a week. Until we ran into Cal, and we just passed on the trail and said �howdy� and jawed for a minute. We been on the trail headed back home from New Mexico. The first I heard about anything was last night when they came into our camp.�

I sat down and started rubbing sticks together to try to get a fire started. If I�d been smart, I woulda bought matches at the store. Guess I�ll never be accused of bein� a great intellect. �I believe you, Jess. I wouldn�t be here if I thought you had anything to do with killin� Cal.�

�Cal? You mean he�s the same guy? The sheriff is the man we met?�

�Yeah. I hear he was killed. Don�t know anything more about it though.� The sticks were beginnin� to smoke. �All I know is Jake and Early were up to something. They was probably gonna kill you. Maybe they had somethin� to do with it themselves. I don�t pretend to be smart enough to figger it all out, but I do know them two. They was no good all the way through.�

Jess� eyes was closed, but he nodded his head and sighed. I was getting� a good fire goin� now. I put a few dead logs on it and some more kindlin�, then went about getting out my pan and the food.

I thought Jess had gone to sleep, but apparently, he hadn�t. �You think they�re following us?� His voice was quiet.

�Well, I been thinkin� on that. I don�t think Early would take off on his own and follow us even if he could get out of that cell. He�d wait for Jake to come back. That gives us a head start fer sure. After that, I don�t know what they�ll do. Neither one o� them has two brain cells to rub together.� I had one of them epiphanies like my Mama used to have. �Say, Jess. When they picked you up, did they ask you who you was or where you were from?�

�I told them my name, but I don�t think they ever asked where I lived. They just asked where I was comin� from. I told them I was coming back from New Mexico. They never asked where I was headin�. I think they got distracted and just never got back to it.�

�Like I said, stupid. Real stupid.� I rubbed my chin. �That means they don�t know where you live and really don�t have an inklin� of where we might be headed. That�s our biggest advantage.�

Jess looked over at me. I think he, like most people who don�t know me real well yet, was surprised that I really do have a head on my shoulders sometimes. Sometimes, I even surprise myself.

After a long silence, with me working on supper and Jess dozing, I finally had some grub that looked decent. It looked a lot better than that jail slop from this morning. I hated to wake Jess up, but figger him eatin� is more important right now. He can go back to sleep after we eat. I dished up bacon, beans and some peaches on a couple of plates and went to sit next to Jess. I put a hand on his shoulder and shook him. He slowly opened his eyes, not startled or anything, just kinda sluggish.

�Here ya go, Jess. I brung you some supper.�

He took the plate and stared glassy-eyed at it. I think he�s sick. He scooped some beans into his mouth and I reached over and put my hand on his forehead.

�You�re burnin� up Jess.�

�Yeah, I know. �

�Probably all that wet and cold last night. Those lousy bastards.� I stabbed a peach unmercifully and shoved it in my mouth.

I watched out of the corner of my eye while Jess picked at his food. He ate a few bites, but then slowed down. I decided a little dinner conversation was in order.

�After we eat, I�m gonna go down to that creek we crossed and fill up the canteens and then I�m gonna clean you up some. You got some nasty looking bloody places. I wanna see that place on your head too.� I shoved a spoonful of beans in my mouth.

He had stopped eating and laid the plate down in his lap.

�No ya don�t, buster. You eat them beans. You need �em.� I reached over and picked up the plate and filled the spoon. �I know you don�t feel like it, but the only way you�ll get any better is for you to keep your strength up.� I put the spoon to his mouth, and he dutifully took it.

I know if he was healthy, he�d never allow this in a million years. I�ve took care of sick folk before, Gracie for one, and I know they ain�t always in control of their usual faculties. I wanted to keep him awake for awhile longer so I started talking about anything.

�Ya know, doin� this reminds me of my Gracie. She was sick for the last couple of weeks of her life, and I used to feed her like this.� You wouldn�t think that would be a pleasant memory for me, but I chuckled, �She was somethin� else, Jess. The only woman who would ever have anything to do with me. Wasn�t afraid of me neither. Boy howdy that woman had a temper on her. She could put me in my place faster�n my Mama and Daddy put together when I was ten.�

I could see that Jess was trying real hard to participate. �Why would anybody be afraid of you, Macy?�

�I guess �cause I�m so big. I never mean to scare nobody, well mostly anyway.� I kinda let loose another chuckle. �Sometimes I take advantage of it. You know, people like those two deputies. But, mostly, I want folks to like me. I don�t want them to run away.�

Jess� head was drooping down and his eyes was closed. I figger he et enough, so I put the plate down and got up. The blankets was stacked over under a tree, so I went and got both of �em. I laid one out on the ground, folded in half, right next to where Jess was sittin�. Then I kinda eased him over on it. He didn�t stir around at all, just kinda let me move him. I tried to be easy with him, knowin� about his ribs an� all. Then I took the other blanket and put it over him.

I guess he wasn�t completely asleep because, without opening his eyes, he said, �I�m sorry.�

I dunno what he would have to be sorry for. ��Bout what, Jess?�

�I�m sorry Gracie died.�

Oh, that. I guess he was listenin� to my rambling. �Yeah, me too.� I stood up. �I�ll be right back, Jess. I�m gonna go get that water.�

He didn�t move. I picked up the two half-empty canteens and headed for the creek. Tuck saw me and started headin� that way too. We met up on at the water�s edge. I patted him while he took a drink, and then I moved to his up-stream side and filled up the canteens. I also took off my neckerchief and washed it out as good as I could. Tuck was still drinkin� when I turned and headed back to camp. He�d come in later on his own.

I sat in the dead leaves next to Jess and kinda hunched over close to him. He hadn�t moved since I left. �Sorry, pal, I�ll be as easy as I can.� I pulled back the blanket and unbuttoned his blue shirt. He had on what used to be red long johns top underneath, now it was kinda pinkish. I pulled it up to have a look at those ribs. I wasn�t really expecting it to be as bad as all that. I felt a sympathetic ache in my side as I looked at what had been done. His left side was so black and blue that I couldn�t tell where the black ended and the blue started. His other side was bruised too, but not as bad. I gently touched his ribs with my fingers, feelin� for any give to �em. Jess moaned and his brow creased up, but he didn�t wake up. I pushed on all of them and didn�t feel any of them give way. I don�t think any of �em were broke, but I�ll bet a few sure were cracked and all of �em were angry.

I put a hand under one hip and turned him over just a little so I could see his back. It was all bruised up too around his sides. I put him back flat and pulled his undershirt back down and buttoned up his blue shirt again. Nothin� really to be done for all that but time.

I scooted up to his head so I could look at that gash I saw last night. I took the wet neckerchief I had in my hand and wiped off the dried blood from his hair and his ear and where it ran down his neck. I really thought he�d respond to that, but he didn�t move much. It took awhile �cause I had to go slow.

After I got all the dry blood off, I could see the cut on his head. It wasn�t too bad. I seen worse. Looked like it was closing up. I just cleaned it an� left it alone. I was more concerned about his breathing and this fever. I put my head down on his chest and listened. It sounded rattley. Kinda like puttin� marbles in a can and shakin� it, but not as loud.

I took the rag and wet it and rinsed it out and then folded it and lay it across his forehead to cool him down some. I held it there for a minute, then just sat back. I didn�t know what else I could do for him. I sure hoped he�d be better by in the morning so we could move. If we didn�t, Jake and Early might find us, depending on how lucky they are. It�s not like we covered our tracks, but I�m pretty sure no one saw us, so it might take them awhile to pick up the trail. We coulda taken any one of a hundred ways out of town.

As I sat there and watched Jess sleep, I was thinkin� about our situation. Obviously we can�t go back to Kane. I think we�d have had a chance with the sheriff, hell, this whole thing wouldn�ta happened if he were still around. No, the only chance we had to resolve the problem was with the territorial marshal and he was in Fort Collins. That�s over a hundred miles east of here.

Maybe we should head for Laramie. Besides being closer, Jess� got people there that know him. Once we get him home, and well again, we can come back and get this mess cleared up. Maybe take it to the Marshal.

Before we can do that though, I have to get Jess home. Alive. If that�s what has to be done, that�s what I�ll do. I�ll make it my business to see that he gets home and gets well to fight another day.

Jess was gettin� restless. I took off the rag and re-wet it and put it back on his head. He seemed so hot. He was also shiverin� a lot again. I tucked the edges of the blanket in under him. Nothin� else to do so I just laid down and curled up on my side next to him. I wanted to be close if he needed me, and �sides, maybe I�d help keep him warm. It didn�t take long �fore I went right to sleep myself.

I think I woke up a couple of times during the night. Once when Jess turned over and once when Tuck came up and stuck his smelly face in my face. He musta thought I was that bag of apples in the dark. I shooed him away and went right back to sleep. Other than that, it was an uneventful night. Thank goodness. In the shape both of us was in, we didn�t need no excitement.