Blood Money
by Holly
Chapter Five
Slim was busy shoeing a horse when he heard the wagon pull up. "Jess, you're late. Everything alright?" he yelled.
Even though he didn't get a reply, he carried on working until he'd finished the shoe. Leaving the horse, he walked around the barn expecting to see Jess unloading the wagon. "Hey, I was talkin' to y--" the words died on his lips. Jess wasn't there.
Slim looked around, and not seeing him, peered over the wagon. The supplies hadn't been unloaded. Slim frowned, then made his way to the house. Just as he reached the door, Jess came out carrying his saddlebags. They looked full.
"What's that?" asked Slim.
Jess didn't stop, just kept walking towards the barn. "My gear."
Slim grabbed Jess and twisted him around. "What's going on, Jess?"
Jess pulled free and went into the barn. Dropping his bags, he began to saddle Traveler. Slim stood watching, knowing when Jess set his mind to something, not much could change it.
"Tell me?" Slim asked softly. One thing he had learned over the last months was not to go at Jess hard unless he wanted to risk a punch on the jaw.
Jess carried on strapping his bags onto the saddle. "I'm leavin'. I'm goin' after Greg Anders."
Slim asked, "Who's he?"
"A member of the Carlin gang," Jess replied as he took Traveler and led him out into the yard.
Slim followed. "He wasn't with them when they came here."
"No, Slim, he wasn't. Sheriff says he was in jail around that time, but he's out now. He killed the gambler, Parsons, in town today."
"You were friends with Parsons? Is that why you're going after Anders?"
"No, not really."
"Then why you going?"
"The reward." Jess mounted his horse.
"I didn't have you pegged as a bounty hunter," Slim said looking up at Jess.
"I'm not, but we need the money."
"NOT THIS WAY JESS," Slim said firmly.
"Then how? This way is the only way I can think of to save the ranch Slim."
"To kill him or get yourself killed? No Jess. It's not worth the risk."
"Look Slim, you're good at ranchin', and I don't tell you how to go about it. Don't interfere in what I'm good at." Jess said quietly.
"What? Killin'?"
"If it makes you feel any better, Mort asked me to be a deputy." Jess omitted to tell Slim he wasn't actually doing this for Mort and that he'd turned the sheriff down flat. "Don't try to stop me, Slim."
"I know I can't, but I don't like it."
"Neither do I, but I'm gonna do it just the same."
"You could get into a heap of trouble going up against a Carlin gang member. They don't mess around."
Jess nodded. "Don't worry Slim. I'll be back. You ain't gonna get rid of me so easy."
Slim stood back as Jess turned his horse towards the road to Cheyenne. "What shall I tell Andy when he gets home?" He asked.
Jess pointed to the wagon. "There's toffee in there. Tell him it's from me."
"That's it? He'll ask questions."
Jess dug his heels in and as he urged Traveler on. His parting words were, "Tell him I've gone huntin'. That's the truth, isn't it?" And he sped off leaving Slim watching until he disappeared from sight over the hill.
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