The Last Run
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Three
Slim waited until the cabin door shut before he raced to Jess. "What was all that about?"
Jess glanced at him with so much innocence that he looked guilty. "I don't know what you mean.
I'm changing the horses like you wanted." He turned and led a horse towards the corral.
In three easy strides, Slim caught up to Jess and walked beside him. "Jess don't play innocent with me! I seen the way you looked at the marshal. Marshal Barner is one of the best lawmen in this territory, and you treated him like one one of them outlaws that he used to go after."
Jess opened the corral door saying, "You don't know a thing about Barner other than what you read."
"And what my Pa told me!" Slim defended.
"Slim, I don't care what your Pa said. Barner should be hung up as high as any of them outlaws that he caught. He ain't no better."
Slim's voice rose an octave as he cut in, "You stop right there! Tom Barner cleaned up this territory. I've ridden on one or two posses with him myself. He's as brave as they come."
A grin flashed across Jess's face, but it wasn't a happy one. "I should have known. You won't listen about him."
"Did he arrest you once? Is that it? He said your face looked familiar."
Jess's face hardened into anger. "I never hid that I once served time. But I got my papers, and you know I ain't wanted." Jess tossed his lasso over a quarter horse's neck. He pulled harder than he meant to causing the animal to struggle. "Easy, boy," he mumbled quickly, patting the animal's neck. He then started leading the animal towards the stage.
Slim kept up with Jess, walking along side him. "Was Marshal Barner the reason you went to jail?" Slim persisted.
"No," Jess' answer was curt.
"Then you don't know him."
"I know him."
"How?"
"That's in the past," Jess started hitching the horse to the stage.
"Not the way you act," Slim replied.
"Let it be, Slim. As far as I'm concerned my past is dead." Jess tied a lead rope to another horse.
Slim waved his finger in Jess's face as if he were an angry school teacher. "This ain't over, Jess. I got some questions, and I'm expecting some answers."
Jess ignored Slim's threat. "You want me to stand around and jaw or do you want me to take care of these horses? I thought you wanted to get the branding done today."
Slim shook his head as if Jess were an annoying fly. "You know when you signed on here, we offered more than work. We offered you a home. But until you learn to trust us, this ain't going to be nothing but another job. The choice is yours, Jess. Make of it what you will."
Jess only stared back in defiance.
"All right," Slim said angrily. "Have it your own way. But it's got me to thinking. Maybe it ain't the marshal you don't cotton to. Maybe it's just the law that you dislike so much." Slim turned on his heels with fury. He headed towards the cabin passing Andy who stood on the porch. Andy watched Slim enter the cabin.
Andy then moved close to Jess, who was checking the hooves of the horse. "Jess, you and Slim fighting again? You two sure been at it for over a week now." Worry creased Andy's forehead.
"Aw Slim is just sore because we ain't finished the branding. Only so much two men can do in one day. But he won't see that."
"Jonesy said Slim is real worried. Jonesy said if we don't make the bank note..."
"He'll make it," Jess said standing straight. "Well, the horses are ready. Where's Mose?"
"Eating Jonesy's pie." Andy grinned. "Slim told him to stay out here, but Mose said no one was going to keep him from Jonesy's pie, not even Slim."
Jess chuckled. "You better tell Mose that the stage is ready to leave."
"All right. But you know how Mose is when it comes to Jonesy's pie. I reckon he'll want a second piece."
"Slim is pulling at the reins to get to that branding. And 'sides the quicker Mose gets out of here, the sooner the marshal is on his way."
"Say Jess, what you got against the marshal anyway?" Andy's head cocked with curiosity.
Jess's mood suddenly darkened. "Who says I got anything against him?"
"I seen from the window the way your face changed when you saw who was getting down from the stage. Why, you looked at him like a rattle snake ready to strike."
Jess chewed on his lip before speaking, "Let's just say, I ain't partial to the marshal. Now get in there and let them know the horses are ready or Slim's going to blame me for delaying the stage. Even if it ain't my fault."
Andy took off running for the cabin. He yelled over his shoulder, "I'll save you a piece of pie."
"You be sure to do that 'cause I'm like Mose. When it comes to Jonesy's pie, I don't care what
Slim says. I'm going to take time to eat it.."
Andy laughed as he entered the cabin.
