The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Twenty Four
Slim helped Jess to his feet. The gunshot caused both men to draw their weapons and fire simultaneously. They heard a soft cry. They moved quickly to the trees closest to the cabin. What they saw shocked each. The sheriff was grasping his chest. Blood flowed through his fingers. Though he tried to stay on his horse, he fell, hitting the ground with a loud thump.
Slim started to speak. But seeing the look on Jess� face, he knew the answer.
�Like I said I remember everything,� Jess mumbled.
�The sheriff?�
�I remember him removing his bandana right before I lost consciousness.�
They neared Muller as if he was a wild animal who might attack. Jess kicked the gun away from the lawman�s out stretched arm. Slim knelt down beside the sheriff. �You ain�t got long.�
Muller smiled. �If only I had caught up to your friend, Harper, first. I could have claimed I didn�t know the wanted poster was no longer good.�
�You knew?�
�I never throw away anything. I knew it was old. Just like I knew you were going to ride back to Mrs. Jackson. I didn�t think Harper was here. But I decided to come back too. Imagine my surprise.�
�How about Gwen�s husband?� Jess asked.
Muller looked up at Jess. �So you�re Harper? You got a good friend here. Him and Jonesy were the only two who showed up. Everyone else just wanted the belongings sent to them. My luck, huh, that the one who survived had such friends.�
�What about Mister Jackson?� Jess insisted.
�Who�d have thought she�d be friendly to you,� Muller mumbled, his voice growing weaker.
�What about Jackson?� Jess asked, his voice becoming louder.
The sheriff started to speak but the cough raked his body.
No one had heard her approach. She never glanced at Jess. She only knelt down beside the sheriff. �If you have any decency left in you then you�ll tell me what happen to my husband.�
�He�s...dead,� Muller informed. �He gave up all the jewelry peacefully except the wedding ring. I didn�t want to kill him but-� It was the last words he spoke before he closed his eyes. He was lifeless and no one looking down at him was sorry.
She had suspected for a long time. Still the shock caused her to shiver. She stood. She wrapped her arms around her body but she felt cold.
�Gwen-� Jess started for her.
But she turned her back to him. �Go back to Laramie,� was all she said before she entered the cabin.
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