CHAPTER TWELVE

Jess stopped the buckboard on a bluff overlooking the house. “Looks like we got company,” Jess said as he sized up each visitor.

Sitting on the porch were four men; three wore guns low on their hips. The fourth was dressed in a coat and tie. Two of these armed men were sitting in chairs, leaning back with their feet on the porch rail. The third cowboy was smoking. The one dressed in the business suit was pacing the total length of the porch as if he was a caged animal.

“The one walking back and forth; that’s Jack Phillips,” Laura introduced.

“I didn’t expect this,” Jess mumbled.

Something else Jess had not expected was Jack Phillips’ appearance. He was younger than Jess had assumed, much younger. Jess reasoned that Jack Phillips was probably not more than five years older than he was. Phillips was lean yet he looked as if he had worked out of doors every day of his life. In fact the business suit looked contrary to Phillips’ tanned face. He wasn’t a handsome man for his face was too lean. Already his hairline was starting to recede. Lines around his eyes showed that he did smile a lot, but it was the knife wound that drew your attention. Phillips’ looks were spoiled by a scar, which ran down the side of his face from his eye to his mouth. Somebody had once gotten mean with this man.

“What do you think he’s doing here?” Laura shivered and slid across the wagon seat close to Jess. Her shoulder touched his.

“Well looks like he saved me a trip of visiting him. Was going to let him stew a couple of days wondering when I’d show, but I guess...”

“He’s not a patient man either,” she finished for him.

Jess chucked. “Laura, I don’t want to make those boys any edgier than they are. So you let me handle this.” Jess swatted at some flies. His hand dropped and he scratched his right leg just above his boot. When he withdrew his hand, he had a derringer palmed in his fingers. He casually moved his hand near Laura. “I want you to take this. If anyone tries to harm you, you shoot to kill. There’re two shots in there. Keep the gun hid in your skirt. I don’t want them to know you got a gun.”

Alarm flashed across her face. “You think it will come to gun play?”

“I hope not, but Phillips brought enough men to be sure he’s holding the winning hand if that happens.”

Laura’s face puckered with worry.

Jess’ eyes gentled. “You ain’t worried about me? A gunfighter?”

Laura breathed in a long sigh of anger. “If this does turn into a fight…” Her face changed into a mask of determination. “…well with us both armed that cuts down on the odds.”

Jess glanced at her with worry outlined on his face. “Hold it! You ain’t planning on playing vigilante, are you?”

“I told you that I’m not afraid of Phillips!” she snapped.

“Well with the odds the way they are right now, you better be. Now you let me handle this and maybe we’ll both come out alive. Savvy?” His expression echoed the seriousness of his words.

She touched his hand. “Jess, you will be careful?”

The concern on her face stunned him. “As careful as a fellow can be around rattlesnakes.”

Her voice pleaded, “Jess, can’t we turn around?”

“Too late for that. They’ve already spotted us. Our buggy can’t outrun horses. They’d catch up to us quick enough. Now don’t you fret,” he said as he winked at her. “I’m going to try to keep this peaceful, and if I can keep them talking, Jackson and his foreman ought to be here in an hour with them horses. That’ll help even the odds.”

She fingered the revolver, her fingernail scratching the gun’s steal surface.

Jess added, “You just be careful where you point that gun. I ain’t aiming to get shot today.”

Temper scorched her cheeks. “You don’t trust me, do you?”

“Told you that last night, didn’t I?”

“Oh...I almost wish Jack Phillips would shoot you!”

Jess snapped, “Well you might just get your wish. Now you listen to me and listen good. Phillips has got us outnumbered, but like I told you last night, I ain’t backing down. While I’m facing Phillips, I can’t be worried none about you! So you do exactly what I tell you to do. You let me do all the talking. Not one word, Laura! Not one single word, you hear me?”

“Humph!’ she mumbled, a look of insult sketched across her face.

“When we get down there, you walk in the house. Once in, you go out the back door and into the woods. Don’t stop. Go as deep as you can. If there’s a cave you know, hide. If not, you keep walking, fast, towards town. I’ll stall them as long as I can. With luck all we’ll do is talk.”

“But you think there’s going to be a fight, don’t you?”

“Maybe...maybe not, but either way, I want you long gone from here.” Jess started the buckboard forward. When he reached the house, he stopped the wagon close to the porch. He climbed down like it was an everyday occurrence to see these men on the porch. The two cowboys, who were sitting, immediately stood. The man, who had been pacing, stopped and faced Jess. All three looked tense. Only the fourth man, who was smoking a cigarette, looked as casual as Jess.

‘Evenin’, Montana,” Jess greeted the smoker as he helped Laura down from the buckboard.

“Jess.” The man called Montana had a beard and mustache. His hair was dark and curly. He wore a sheepskin jacket that looked as if he had worn it every day of his life. His gun hung low on his hips, much lower than Jess wore his. He took a deep drag on his cigarette, and blew out a long puff of smoke as he tossed the cigarette into the yard. .

“Been awhile,” Jess stated.

“Yeah, sure has,” Montana replied, his beady eyes roving from Jess to Laura and back to Jess. “I seen Swenson awhile back.”

“How’s that old cougar doing?”

“I killed him.”

Laura’s head jerked towards Jess to see his reaction, but Jess showed no surprise. He asked in a calm voice, “Why?”

“Fought on different sides, but I killed him like I’d want a friend to kill me.”

Jess gave a quick nod, as if in agreement.

Laura’s expression condemned every man on the porch. Jess was no exception. As she crossed the porch, she kept her eyes straight ahead, glancing at no one, not even Jack Phillips.

Like a hawk, Montana’s eyes watched her every movement, but unlike the other men, his eyes didn’t devour her. Instead he only looked curious. As she started to open the porch door, Montana stepped into her path, blocking her way into the house. He tipped his sweat stained hat. “Ma’am,” he greeted.

She offered him a brisk nod.

“This your woman, Jess?” Montana questioned, his eyes still glued to her face.

Jess only nodded. His hand now gripped the butt of his gun.

“I had heard when I signed on that you had a woman. Mighty pretty,” he complemented. “Mighty pretty,” he repeated. “And a lady...how did a polecat like you get someone like her? She must have had more suitors than a dog’s got fleas. You done good, Jess.”

Laura felt her skin crawl with repulsion.

“Me and your man rode for the same brand down in Texas a few years ago,” Montana explained. “Them gals always did take a shine to Jess. But of course none of them was ladies. Never known Jess to associate with a lady.”

“Montana,” Jess’ voice was low but the warning was loud.

“Meant no harm,” Montana said but he sounded defiant.

Laura studied Montana. He was older than Jess. He was so close to her that she could smell whiskey, cigarette smoke, and a soft scent of bay rum. Slowly her eyes met Montana’s. She was surprised that his eyes looked warm and friendly. He smiled then side stepped to let her walk by him.

“I’m closing the door to keep out the varmint,” she said loudly before slamming the door.

Jess swore under his breath.

“So you’re Jess Harper,” Jack Phillips greeted. He held out his hand. “Mister Harper, my name is...”

“Oh you don’t have to introduce yourself to me,” Jess replied, refusing to shake hands. Instead he kept his hand resting on the butt of his gun. “Heard all about you from Laura. She told me that she talked to you about rustling our horses.” Jess leaned against the porch rail, keeping all the men in front of him.

“Not a very wise thing to say, wouldn’t you agree?” Phillips asked, still sounding friendly.

Jess shrugged.

Phillips drew in his breath then withdrew it slowly.

Montana’s eyes slid from one man to the other. His own hands rested against his belt buckle.

Still sounding friendly, Phillips said, “I’ll get right down to business. I want to buy this place.”

For a long second, Jess was thoughtful. “It ain’t for sale,” Jess said bluntly.

“Come on, Mister Harper. Every man has his price. And this place...” His eyes swept across the yard. “It has seen better days. I’ll give you a fair offer. In fact, I’ll give you more than the place is worth.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Jess watched as one of Phillips’ men started inching forward. Jess couldn’t afford for any of the men to be behind him. Still he said nothing as the man took one step then paused and took another step.

“Why are you so interested in this place?” Jess asked, then suddenly warned, “You tell your man if he moves any closer, I’ll kill him.”

The gunslinger stopped in his tracks. The gunman’s hand hovered over his pistol. Jess countered by parting his legs. He was ready to draw.

Phillips chuckled, “Easy boys. This is friendly visit. Mister Harper, we’re not here for gunplay. We’re just here to make a business offer, that’s all.”

The gunslinger on Phillips’ payroll nodded as his hand slowly rose away from his gun. He tried to smile, but his face still looked cautious. The tenseness of his body showed that he was on guard. Jess kept his hand tight on his gun butt.

“You should take the offer, Jess. Then take your women to some place far away from here. Raise some kids,” Montana suggested. “You always did like kids.”

Jess’ eyes slid from Phillips to Montana and back to Phillips. “And if I don’t accept your offer?”

“Well...that would be a mistake. A costly mistake,” Phillips advised. “Mister Harper, it’s obvious you’re no rancher. We both know that.”

Jess pressed his lips together as if he wanted to disagree. For a second his thoughts were back at the Sherman Relay Station. He sure had enjoyed ranching there, but just as quick, Jess focused back on Phillips.

“So why not sell? It’ll be a fair price, I guarantee you.”

“Won’t deny it is going to cost to rebuild that barn,” Jess said, “and to replace them horses.”

Phillips nodded sympathetically. “I heard about your trouble.”

“Word gets around real fast don’t it? It just happened last night.”

Phillips’ smile wavered. “Well we are neighbors and so I’m going to give you some neighborly advice. Running a relay station can be dangerous. A person’s been known to die from such an occupation. So why not do yourself a favor and take my offer? It’s a fair offer; in fact I’ll even pay more than this place is worth. You won’t find a better offer than that. So we got a deal? You going to take me up on my offer?”

Both men had spoken politely but there was no politeness in the way they watched each other.

Jess pushed away from the porch rail and stood straight. “And what are you offering if I don’t sell?”

Phillips’ friendly face soured as his eyes darkened. His cheek ticked making his scar more prominent. “I’m only here to make a business deal with you, Mister Harper.”

Jess abandoned any attempt at politeness and instead offered a declaration of war. “Well I think it would be a bad business decision if you somehow acquired this place.”

Montana’s hand dropped to the butt of his revolver. “Boss?”

Phillips shook his head no. “Why don’t you take some time to think over my offer?”

Jess’ hand began stroking the butt of his gun. “Don’t need to. Already decided. I don’t want to sell, especially to you.”

Phillips laughed loudly. “I must say I heard you have guts. Obviously the odds don’t bother you. Why one would think that you want to settle this right now.”

The opening of the door surprised everyone. Laura stood in the doorway carrying a tray of drinks.

Jess turned his head sharply and glared at her. She didn’t even look in his direction. Jess tried to hide his displeasure but he couldn’t hide his scowl. She should have been long gone, but there she stood, smiling at everyone.

“Lemonade, Jack? Boys?” she asked, her smile widening.

Every man looked stunned.

“Now it wouldn’t be polite if I didn’t offer our guests something cool to drink.” She placed the tray on a porch chair. She then handed a glass to every man.

Only Jess turned her offer down. He didn’t say anything. He only raised his eyebrows with anger.

The last person to receive a glass of lemonade was Phillips. “Jack?” She smiled sweetly at him.

For a moment, Phillips hesitated as if fearful she was offering him poison. “Thank you, Laura.” He reached out and took hold of the glass. Laura though did not move away, but instead she drew closer to him.

“Laura, get in the house,” Jess hissed.

Laura never even offered Jess a glance.

“Now, Laura!” Jess’ voice was so hard that several of the cowboys’ hands dropped to the butt of their guns, but Laura never even flinched.

As he took a sip, Phillips gasped, choking on the lemonade. “Ma’am, that’s a gun!” A shadow of alarm touched Phillips’ face making his scar’s jagged line stand out on his otherwise clear complexion.

Jess’ whole body stiffened. “Laura, I got this under control. Why don’t you go back into the house?” He knew if he drew his gun, the others would draw too.

All eyes were now on Laura.

Laura pushed the gun harder against Phillips’ side, burying the steel into his body. “Jess gave this to me. Do you want to see how good I can shoot?”

“No ma’am,” Phillips choked on his words.

Montana chuckled. “I swear, Jess. That’s some woman.”

Phillips spit out the words, “Ma’am, I know you think that I’m somehow responsible for your troubles, but I assure you that I’m not.”

Laura snarled, “I know you had something to do with my horses’ deaths...”

“Here now,” Phillips attempted a smile but his lips wavered. “I’m not looking for trouble. I came here peacefully. No need for all of this.”

“The next time you visit me, you make sure I do the inviting,” Laura said.

Jess announced, “All right, boys, the visit’s over. Time for you to ride out.”

No one moved. Each cowboy looked at Phillips to see what they should do as their hands stayed locked on the butts of their guns.

Jess kept his own hand rested on the butt of his revolver. His eyes darted from Phillips to the cowboys. He tried to watch each one of them. If one drew, he was ready to react.

“Well go ahead,” Phillips echoed as Laura jabbed him with the gun. “Ride out.”

“I’d make it quick,” Jess added. “Before Laura here forgets that she’s a lady. Sure would hate for her to shoot one of you, and with her aim no telling what part of you she’d shoot. Of course no telling what she would be aiming at, angry as she is at each one of you.”

Laura jerked her head towards Jess. He was grinning but his eyes were cold with fury.

Phillips started to move.

“Not until they ride out,” Laura said as she pushed the gun even harder into his side.

For a long second, no one moved, but then Montana tipped his hat. “Ma’am. Been a pleasure.” As he left the porch, he glanced at Jess. “That sure is some woman you got there, Jess, a regular wildcat. You’re a lucky man to get to tame her.” He glanced over his shoulder at her.

Laura couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her spine.

Montana chuckled loudly. “Sure never thought this would turn into a lemonade social. Come on boys, we’ve worn out our welcome.” Montana mounted his sorrel, then said, “Nice seeing you again, Jess. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon if Mister Phillips here has a say about it.” He nodded then rode off.

One by one the other men followed until only Phillips, Laura, and Jess remained on the porch.

“Now what?” Phillips asked. He sounded brave, but his skin was clammy.

“Ride out,” Jess said.

“Ride out?” Laura protested. “But last night...”

“Laura, I said he’s to ride out!” Jess’ voice showed he was in no mood to argue. “Unless you’re a mind to shoot him right here?”

Phillips’ face paled. “Harper! That would be....”

“Murder,” Jess finished. “Can you murder someone, Laura?”

For a minute, Jess wasn’t sure if she would back down, but she nodded. Still clutching the derringer, her hand dropped to her side. “Get out of here, and don’t you dare step foot on my land or so help me, I will shoot you like the polecat you are!”

Phillips slowly eased away from Laura. He walked across the porch as if walking across fire. After he mounted his pinto, he said, “I tried being friendly.”

Jess nodded his agreement.

“Now I’ve listened to all the accusations I will from her, and I’ve made concessions ‘cause she’s a woman, but drawing a gun on me wasn’t wise.”

“Your fight’s with me, not her,” Jess said quickly. “We can end this now if you want.”

“We’ll settle it, but on my terms, not yours.”

“Then you ride out of here now,” Jess ordered. “and be glad I’m letting you after last night.”

Phillips barked back, “You think I attacked your place last night, then you talk to the sheriff, but when you do, you better have proof.”

“Do you think once I’m sure about something that I’m a man who waits to get proof?” Jess countered.

Anger sculptured Phillips’ entire body. “Harper, you’re a stranger here. So I’m telling you flat out that I have friends in Carter Springs. I’m not a man to cross.”

“Neither am I,” Jess replied, his voice deadly.

“You’ll regret this, Harper,” Phillips promised.

“Probably,” Jess admitted, “but then you just might regret this too.”

“We’ll talk again, Harper, real soon.” Phillips promised.

“You can count on it,” Jess replied.

Phillips tipped his hat. “Laura. You think hard on my offer.” He then spurred his horse and rode away.

Jess moved to Laura and blocked her body with his. He had no doubt that Phillips had a gun and probably a second one on him. He stood on the porch, with her behind him until Phillips was out of sight. Only when the rider could no longer be seen did he turn with the fury of a wounded bear. “What did you think you were doing?”

“Helping you.”

“I didn’t need no help. I told you that I could handle it. I told you to hide in the woods.”

“I disagreed with the way you wanted to do things. I could hear your conversation. It was turning nasty and a fight was about to break out.”

“I had everything under control.”

“You can’t face that many guns and expect to win!” she argued.

Jess pointed his finger right in her face. “The next time I tell you to do something, you do it!”

“I can’t promise that!” She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her toe. Her eyes stared right into his, daring his order.

Anger molded his face even more. “Don’t you understand? You could have gotten killed. You could have gotten us both killed. The odds were in his favor! You don’t fight if you don’t have to when the odds aren’t with you.”

“What about Montana? He’s your friend. Maybe he would...”

“He works for the highest bidder, and right now that’s Phillips.”

“But he said he was your friend.”

“Let me tell you about Montana,” Jess snarled. “Even if he was on our side, I wouldn’t turn my back on him. Not for a second! When I was riding the Brazos, I’ve seen him kill just for the pleasure.”

“Well at least out of the four, he tipped his hat!”

Jess cursed.

“Jess Harper!” she scolded. “You best remember that I’m a lady!”

“Not likely you’ll let me forget it! And another thing; this has got to be more than Phillips wanting to have his own relay station. He offered to buy this place. Now I know you’re holding back on me.”

She looked away from his stare, her eyes refusing to meet his.

“Tell me,” he demanded.

“I’ve already told you all you need to know!”

“Tell me!” His voice was deadly.

She had never seen him this angry. Her face paled. “I...I guess it could be more than Jack wanting to run a relay station,” she stammered.

“You guess?” He neared her. “You know it’s more. Now you tell me everything. I’m risking my life for you. So don’t you go holding back on me, or so help me, I’ll turn you over my knee and blister your hide, lady or no lady.”

Her face reddened so much she looked sunburned. “Don’t you dare touch me!”

“I’ll dare all right!”

She pulled back the hammer on the derringer, cocking the gun and pointed it at him. “You take one more step towards me and…”

Without hesitation, he grabbed the pistol, crushing her hands between his as he pointed the barrel of the gun towards the sky. The gun fired wildly in the air. He yanked it from her as he shouted, “You were going to shoot me!”

She took a step backwards. “I warned you not to touch me.”

He took a step towards her. “And I warned you not to keep anything back from me. You’re so used to lying, you don’t know when to stop. What kind of lady are you?”

“Jess Harper, you’re no gentlemen!” she snarled back, taking another step backwards.

“Gunslingers seldom are, or didn’t Mose tell you that when he was talking about me?”

“Even a gunslinger wouldn’t hurt a woman!” she fired back. But still she tried to put distance between them. “Now I’m a lady and…”

“Oh you’re no lady!” Jess narrowed the gap that she had created. “You’re a wildcat whose claws keep scratching me!”

Her voice softened, “Jess...”

His voice hardened, “Don’t go innocent on me, Laura. You know what we’re facing, but I can’t face it if I don’t know the truth. So I don’t want to hear any more lies! I want the truth! Now you tell me everything! And I want the truth, no lies. What’s this really all about?”

Her chin tilted with defiance. “I’ve told you what you need to know.”

“I...want...to...know...all...of...it!” he said as if each word was a threat.

“But I’ve already told you everything! I told you about the drought.”

He nodded. His eyes narrowed to slits with anger.

Seeing his fury, she said quickly, “I guess I could mention that my ranch still has water and Phillips’ ranch is bone dry.”

“What?” He eyed her as if she was an enemy. “You’re talking range war. No wonder Phillips was willing to hire gunslingers if he needs water.”

“He does,” she admitted. “His cattle are dying from thirst.”

“Then let him use the ponds!”

“No!”

“He could pay you. You need money. Sell him the water!”

“And what about my livestock? He ran them off and killed my horses. No, let his animals die.”

“Laura! You’re starting a range war by not letting him have water. You ain’t got any cattle; he does. Sell him the water.”

“No!”

They now stood almost nose touching nose.

“Laura, yes!”

“Jess, no!”

Rage poured out of Jess like a flood. “You stubborn...spoiled...”

Words now flowed from her like a damn busting, “He wanted my pa to die! He was like a buzzard, just waiting for his death! Those men killed your folks. I would think you’d understand how I feel knowing Jack wanted my pa to die.” Her eyes misted. “My pa was a good man. He helped his neighbors, including Jack Phillips. When my pa was dying and needed help, Jack never lifted a finger. He wanted this place in ruin so he could buy it cheap. Jack wore no black the day my pa was buried. Instead he met with a lawyer to draw up a bill of sale to my land. He showed up the day of the funeral to get me to sign! My pa wasn’t even cold in the grave before that vulture came here. I won’t sell to him. I won’t!”

A range of emotions crossed Jess’ face...from sorrow...to concern...to irritation. “Laura, Phillips needs water to survive. He couldn’t afford to wait if his cattle needs water.”

“Don’t defend him!” she screamed. “Last night I know he killed my horses! And we could have been shot. Killed! And he wouldn’t have shed a tear. Not one tear! So don’t you dare defend him to me! And don’t you bargain on his behalf, because I won’t let a scoundrel like Jack Phillips get away with what he’s done. He wanted a fight; well he’s going to get one!”

Jess pushed back his hat to get a clearer view of her. “I don’t know why he just didn’t take it! Being all alone out here, I don’t know how you stopped him from just using the water. Surprised he just didn’t go ahead and water his cattle from your water holes, permission or no permission.”

A smile crossed her face. “I stopped him.”

Jess’ eyebrows knitted. “How’d you do it by yourself?”

“I poisoned the first water hole that he used without my permission.”

“You what?”

Laura added, “Then I threatened to poison any water holes on my property that I found his cattle using.” Her smile grew wider. “Jack Phillips is now afraid to have his cattle drink on my land. He can’t afford for me to poison those water holes. He needs them too much. So I’ve got him in a head lock.”

“You’re crazier than I thought! You’re only pushing him until he won’t care if you’re a woman or not when he comes a-calling. And believe me, Laura, he will come back, and when he does, it won’t be just to talk.”

“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To make sure we win when he does come back?”

Jess tore off the porch.

“Where are you going?” Worry wrinkled her face.

“To get away from you!”

She glanced at the horizon, her eyes searching. “But what if Jack and his guns come back?”

Jess turned in the yard and faced her as if he wanted combat. “You’re so all fired ready to take on hired guns; you handle it. Shoot ‘em. Kill ‘em...for all I care! Or maybe you can serve them some more lemonade. I’m sure they’ll work up a thirst riding over here. After all they got no water!”

Then he was gone. And she agonized about how long he would stay away from her ranch.

Back to Fanfic

Back to The Hired Gun

Chapter Thirteen