Blood Money
by Holly
Chapter Seven
It didn't take him long to bed Traveler in his warm, dry stall, and make his way across the muddy yard to the house.
He stood on the small porch shaking the rainwater from his hat. He scraped his boots on the step thinking there was no need to tramp mud in the house and get Jonesy all riled up when he probably already had Slim as mad as hell for his leavin'. That would be enough to contend with for one evening.
He twisted the latch and the door swung open. Warm air met his cold face. The smell of stew welcomed him as he stepped inside.
Andy stood directly across the room from him.
Jess hadn't expected a hero's welcome, but he did expect more than the stony expression on Andy's pale face.
"What's up?" Jess asked just as the world exploded and blackness enveloped him.
Jess lay where he had fallen. There was no attempt to move him.
Greg Anders stepped over the unconscious man and walked across to Andy. "You did good kid." He went to ruffle the boys hair, but Andy neatly ducked.
"Please yourself." Anders crossed the room and turned into the kitchen area.
"Seems like your brother don't like me much" he said to Slim, who sat in a corner tied to Jonesy. "No matter. I don't like kids anyhow."
He slipped a knife from his boot and bent towards Slim.
"DON'T!" screamed Andy racing in and trying to grab Anders' arm. The man shook off the boy and thrust him across the room to land with a thud against the stove.
Andy lay dazed.
Slim struggled to get free, but the ropes held firm. "If you've hurt him, I'll kill you," he threatened.
"Yeah, sure you will. Why, I'm just tremblin' in my boots." Anders bent and placed the knife beside Jonesy.
"You. Cut yourself free,then him. When you're done, put the knife down. No tricks or I kill the boy." He drew his gun and aimed it at Andy's head.
Jonesy struggled to do as he was told. The ropes had cut the circulation to his hands, and he found it hard to grip the knife. It clattered to the floor.
"Pick it up!" ordered Anders, impatiently cocking the trigger of his colt. It was obvious he meant business.
With Slim's help, Jonesy managed to free them. They slowly got to their feet.
Jonesy carefully placed the knife on the small kitchen table, then Anders signaled with his gun that he wanted them to move through into the main room.
Slim asked, "Can I help my brother?"
"Yeah, take him with you" was the gruff reply.
Slim bent and helped Andy to his feet. "Are you all right, Andy?" he asked.
The boy rubbed his arm. "I guess so, Slim. What's going to happen?"
Anders prodded Slim in the back. "Get movin' and stop the jawin'."
Slim, Andy, and Jonesy, closely followed by Anders, walked to the main living area.
"Sit!"Anders ordered indicating the chairs scattered around the table.
Slowly, never taking his eyes from Anders, Slim sat followed by Jonesy and Andy. "What do you intend to do with us?" asked Slim. "There isn't a stage due until late tomorrow, and it isn't carrying any payroll."
Anders grinned. "Oh, I ain't after no payroll. We're just waitin'on someone. He should be here right soon."
"Who?"
"That's a surprise. You like surprises boy?" Anders turned to Andy. "Well? Do you?"
Andy didn't answer. He was staring at the prone figure of Jess lying by the door.
Anders hadn't bothered to take Jess' gun from his holster.
Andy turned and gazed meaningfully at Slim, then back to Jess hoping Slim would get the message he was trying to convey.
Blue eyes flickered in response.
Andy said, "Could I have a glass of water please?"
Anders nodded, "Okay, bring me one too, and no tricks."
Andy calmly walked to the kitchen and returned in a minute with a glass of water which he offered to Anders.
"Put it down and go sit with them" Anders ordered.
Andy motioned as if to do as he was told, but then tossed the water at Anders. At the same, he threw the knife, used earlier to cut Slim and Jonesy free, to Slim.
Anders screamed "Drop that damn knife!"
Slim was all set to throw, then rush for Jess' gun when the front door burst open and a familiar figure stood, gun aimed at Jess.
"Go Ahead Sherman. Throw... If you want to kill Harper, here."
Slim slowly dropped the knife.
"Well, that's better. WHAT THE HELL YOU PLAYIN' AT, GREG?"
Anders frowned, "I would have taken him."
"Yeah, maybe you would have... afore the old man or kid got you."
Slim stared at the new arrival. Bud Carlin.
"Yeah, it's me. Bet ya didn't expect to see me again, eh? Thought I was safe tucked up in prison, didn't ya? Well, I got out. And now I'm here to finish some business we have goin'."
He grinned. "Nice that Harper's here too. Saves me the trouble of trackin' him down. Tell me, Sherman, why is he here? I thought you two hardly knew each other. What'd you do? Offer him a job based on the fact he was just so helpful in assistin' you putting me away for fifteen years?" His voice took on a vicious edge, and he kicked Jess in the chest. There was no response.
Slim, Jonesy, and Andy automatically moved forward, but Anders gun leveled at them. "Sit"
They did as they were instructed. "What now?" Anders asked Carlin.
Carlin smiled."A cup of coffee, I think. YOU," he pointed at Jonesy. "Go make a pot of coffee and no tricks."
Jonesy went to the kitchen.
Once Carlin had drank two cups of coffee, he turned to Slim. "So tell me, did you enjoy being a 'good' citizen, eh?...Helping to jail a criminal like me."
Slim didn't answer. His eyes rested on Jess who was showing signs of regaining consciousness.
"Ah, Mister Harper has decided to join our happy reunion," Carlin stated as he put his gun away and pulled Jess roughly to his feet.
Blood trickled down from behind an ear to drip from the wavy dark hair onto the bandana around Jess' neck. The blue eyes seemed unfocused as Jess struggled to stay upright. Slim was sure as soon as Carlin let go, Jess would topple to the floor once more, but he was proved wrong. Somehow, Jess managed to stay on his feet, swaying precariously, and finally having to grip the rocking chair to keep his balance.
"Careless!" Carlin hissed as he pulled Jess' gun from its holster. He glared at Anders.
"I.." Anders tried to excuse himself, but Carlin was having none of it.
"You stupid idiot! Harper is a match for you even in this state. Why did I ever think you would help me in this?"
Anders spat, "I never said I would! I thought you just wanted me to hold Sherman 'til you got here. I don't want no part in anythin' else."
"Well, too late! You're here now, and it'll be over soon. "With that, Carlin pushed Jess across to join the others.
"You alright?" asked Slim concerned as Jess slumped into a chair. Jonesy sat beside Jess and began to inspect the gash in his scalp.
Jess winced and tried to pull away, but Jonesy held a clump of hair which stopped him. "What happened?" Jess asked drowsily.
"I'll tell you," Carlin answered for Slim. "I 'm here, you're here, and Sherman's here...it's payback time."
Jonesy and Slim exchanged a look. Then Slim said, "Look Carlin, Andy is no part of this, let him and Jonesy go."
Carlin burst out laughing. "Oh good, very good. So they can go runnin' to the law?" His voice took a steel edge. "No! They stay here. Right here."
Jonesy was angry. "Jess needs a doctor!"
"Well, he ain't getting one, so sit down and shut up, or he'll need a mortician." Carlin replied.
Jonesy sat back down,and clamped his lips shut.
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