The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Three
Mile after mile the stage traveled down dusty, gutted roads. The stage stopped briefly at two relay stations along the way. Jess had only known Charlie to say hello. With each mile they were getting to know each other better.
Mile after mile the stage traveled down dusty, gutted roads. The stage stopped briefly at two relay stations along the way. Jess had only known Charlie to say hello. With each mile they were getting to know each other better.
“You like working for the Overland?” Jess asked.
“Beats punching cattle.”
“I reckon.”
“How about you? What’s Sherman like to work for?”
“Best job I ever had.”
“And Sherman? I hear things about him.”
“What things?” Jess’ face molded with curiosity.
“He’s tough but fair.”
“He’ll ride the extra mile with you, that’s for sure.”
“Must be hard work, though. Doing both stage work and ranching.”
“It is. But you know, I ain’t never been happier,” Jess replied just before the gunshot rang out.
Charlie never had a chance. He was dead before he fell from the stage. Jess grabbed for the reins but he couldn’t reach them. He wanted to shoot back but the horses were running wild. It was bad enough to try to stop one runaway horse. But a team of four horses was a real challenge.
Jess reacted within a split second. He stood on the stage seat and jumped for the closest horse. He hit the horse’s back hard and grabbed for the horse’s neck as he started to slip off the running horse. With legs clinging to the sorrel’s side, Jess managed to pull himself into a seated position. Trees passed him in the blur. His hat fell to the ground and was crushed by the horses’ hooves.
The horses began picking up speed, going from running fast to running out of control. Jess leaned over and was able to grab one rein. But he needed the other rein to guide the horses and pull the team to a stop. He carefully pushed himself to a crunched position on the horse. But before he could jump to the next horse, he almost lost his balance, sliding. Only at the last second was he able to grab the harness, which stopped him from falling underneath the horse and being trampled.
Inch by inch he pulled himself back onto the back of the horse. Again he tried to reach the lead horse. This time he was successful as he jumped from one horse to the other. He wasn’t sure what was ahead but the horses were running up an incline. He knew if the stage went down the hill this fast, it would turn over for sure. He bent as low as he could, but he still couldn’t reach the other rein. Again he tried. Again he failed to get the rein. It was dragging along the ground in between the horses’ hooves. The third time he leaned so far over that his hand was an inch from the ground. He held on tightly with his legs, his upper body loose and striking against the animal. But he was able to grab the loose rein. He sat up so fast that he felt dizzy. For a quick moment he took a deep breath. Then he pulled back hard on the two reins. The horse he sat on began slowing but the other lead horse didn’t. For a second the stage rode on two wheels instead of four.
“Whoa! You no good sorry...Whoa!” Jess screamed, pulling back on the reins so hard that the muscles in his arms were taut.
The animals started slowing.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Jess was yelling so loud that he didn’t hear the approaching horses. A cowboy, wearing a bandana across part of his face, rode along beside the stage. With each step, the cowboy’s horse gained on the lead stage horse. Suddenly the cowboy’s horse was neck to neck with the lead horse that was opposite to the one that Jess rode. The cowboy reached over and grabbed the harness. Jess and the cowboy were pulling back at the same time. As the horses slid to a halt, the stage jerked to a stop. The coach wobbled dangerously but didn’t tilt over.
“All right, get down,” the cowboy directed, pointing his gun at Jess.
Without his rifle, Jess was helpless to protect himself or the passengers. Jess had no choice but to follow the robber’s instructions. Jess swung his leg over the horse and jumped to the ground.
The bandit ordered, “Get over there with the others.”
Jess walked to the coach door. The passengers were filing out. There were only three. Three men. And Jess felt anger at each one of them. Sure, they were dressed for business. But they could have shot out the window. Surely at least one had a gun. Most men in this part of the country carried at least one weapon.
“Well now, what have we got here?” the second masked cowboy asked as he dismounted from his horse. He first moved to Jess. “Don’t reckon you got any valuables?”
Jess shook his head 'no'.
“Empty your pockets.”
Jess didn’t move a muscle.
“Now!” The robber struck out hitting Jess on the shoulder with his revolver.
Jess grunted with pain but didn’t fall. He slowly pulled out two five dollar bills.
“Ain’t much is it?” the thief said as he grabbed the money out of Jess’ gloved hand. “Now that pocket.”
“I don’t have nothing!” Jess snarled. “You got my money!”
“Ain’t you learned? You want another hit?”
For a moment it looked as if Jess would prefer being struck than revealing what he had in his pocket.
“Of course I could just kill you right here. Makes no difference to me.”
“Give him what you got!” one of the men urged. “It ain’t worth your life.”
Jess slowly pulled out the pocket watch.
The robber snatched it from Jess. “Now this is something. What’s a stage guard doing with such a fine watch?”
“It was a present,” Jess said curtly.
The bandit turned the watch over. “Jess, Laramie. You Jess?”
Jess nodded.
“Well I always wanted me a fine watch,” the masked cowboy said as he dropped it into his pocket. He moved to the next passenger. Jess watched as the bandit started taking valuables from each man. The robber’s partner went to the back of the stage and opened the boot. “Here it is.” He didn’t even lift the strong box from the boot before firing his revolver at the lock. He had to fire four times before the lock busted opened. “I told you there would be lots of greenbacks.” He grabbed the two sacks and mounted his horse. “Ain’t you coming?”
“I got one more passenger left. Now what have you got in your pocket for me?”
The last passenger had something that the bandit never suspected. This passenger pulled out a derringer. The robber had no chance as the bullet hit him in the gut. He fell backwards shooting, bullets flying everywhere. Passengers dropped to the ground, most dead before they fell. Jess was the third to fall. Just before Jess hit the ground, he hit his head against the spoke of the wheel. By the time he lay on the ground, he was covered in blood.
The robber tore off his bandana, exposing his face. Anger torched this bandit’s face. “I told you to be careful that none were armed.”
“I know. Well at least none of them can testify. They’re all dead.” The bandit pressed his hand to his bleeding wound. “Get me to a doctor.”
“If I do that, the doctor is going wonder why you got shot.”
“You can’t leave me here! I’ll die.”
The robber drew his gun.
“No! You can’t-” The bullet hit him between the eyes.
His partner then turned his horse and raced away.
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