The Devil Between Us

by S. C. Wilson

  Her vision faded. Unable to hold on any longer, Jesse crashed to the ground, her face landing on a patch of pine needles.

  Abby jumped down from Titan, and went straight to her room at the Rowdy Rabbit. A young man sat alone, quietly playing with a deck of cards.

  “Hi, Toby. My name is Abby. I’m a friend of Jesse’s.”

  “Hi.” Toby looked up and smiled.

  Abby could immediately tell the man was innocent and childlike, as Jesse described. There was also something familiar about him, but she couldn’t place it. “It’s so nice to meet you,” Abby said, sitting down next to Toby. “Want to play a game?”

  “What do you want to p-p-p-play?” Toby’s eyes grew wide.

  “How about blackjack?”

  “Never played t-t-that before. How about old m-maid?”

  “I like that game. Let’s play.” Abby rifled through the deck and removed the ace of clubs.

  Toby sat intently, his mind focused on the game.

  Abby’s thoughts were elsewhere. She watched the door, praying for Jesse to walk through it any second. He should have been back by now. What if he is out there bleeding to death?

  She had no idea if Jesse was dead or alive. Either way, she needed to find out. “Toby, can we finish this game later? We need to go.”

  “All right.” Toby smiled and laid his cards on the floor.

  The two rode double, heading toward the waterfall. Abby was thankful for clear skies and a full moon to light the way. She slowed when they neared the spot in the woods where she had last seen Jesse. “Toby, we have to be really quiet now.” Abby set an example with a soft and low tone. She brought Titan to a stop and the pair dismounted. Handing over the reins, she whispered, “I need you to stay here and be very quiet.”

  “I st-stay, shhh.”

  After hearing the gunshots, Abby had no idea what she was about to come upon. In her gut she knew it was going to be gruesome. Bullets didn’t tickle. She didn’t want Toby to see such things. She didn’t want to see them herself. She was terrified to look. Having no other choice, Abby had to see if Jesse was alive.

  She came upon Jake’s body, his face covered with blood. A few feet away lay Clay, face down in the dirt, pants still bunched around his ankles. Abby turned away from the bloody scene, fighting the urge to vomit. With a pounding heart she looked around, frantically. Her pulse slowed when she found no sign of Jesse or Buck. I didn’t pass him on my way here. He must have gone back to Edith’s.

  Abby ran to Toby, and the pair quickly made their way back to Ely. Had they rode next to the river instead of taking the dirt road, they would have found Jesse, unconscious and bleeding.

  They barely came to a stop before Abby jumped down and ran into the hotel.

  “Edith, is he here? Is Jesse here?” Abby yelled. She was distraught.

  Edith came rushing out of her bedroom, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Abby is that you? Let me get some light in here.”

  Two other doors opened down the hall. Edith said, “It’s fine fellas, go on back to your rooms.” She looked at Abby. “No, dear. I haven’t seen him since the two of you rode off. Why? What’s going on?”

  Abby’s heart and shoulders sank. Edith took her hand and led her to the kitchen with Toby following silently behind. Edith guided Abby to the table and pointed to a chair. “Have a seat.” Pulling out a second chair, she motioned for Toby. “Young man, why don’t you have a seat here?”

  “I T-Toby.”

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Toby.” Reaching into the back of a cupboard, she pulled out her secret stash of moonshine and began pouring shots. For Toby, who seemed as uneasy as Abby, she poured a finger full. “All right,” Edith said, “tell me what’s going on.”

  Abby couldn’t blurt out Jesse had killed two men. Instead, she said, “It’s bad. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know everything for sure. I heard he got into a nasty fight tonight. I don’t know if he is hurt, or worse. I don’t know where he is. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I need to go find him.”

  For the life of her, Abby couldn’t figure out where Jesse might be. He didn’t go back to Granite Falls. He wasn’t at the waterfall. He wasn’t here. He just killed two men. Where is he? Then it came her. Jesse had to know killing was a hanging offense and must have fled back up the mountain. If I leave now, I can catch up to him when he stops for the night. I have to hurry. Abby asked, “Edith, I need to ask for a favor. Can you watch Toby for a few minutes? I have to run and grab some things and I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I think Jesse went back to Barrel. I have to find out. I have to try and find him.”

  “Why don’t you wait ‘til it’s light out?”

  “No, it’s a long trip and I have to leave now. I’ll be fine. I know the way.”

  “Do you want Toby to stay here? He’s more than welcome to stay with me for a while.”

  Abby considered it until she remembered how scary Mount Perish could be—down right terrifying. Not knowing if she would be able to catch up to Jesse, she didn’t want to risk traveling up the mountain alone.

  “No, he’s going with me. We’ll be fine.”

  “All right, but let me fix you up some food to take. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “That would be so kind. Thank you.”

  Abby ran to The Foxtail and quickly tossed a few things into her saddlebags. Before she walked out the door, she was mindful to grab a lantern. Her mind was spinning. Did he go back up the mountain? Is he hurt? What if I can’t catch up to him? Can I make the trip up the mountain without Jesse? All she knew for certain was that Jesse wasn’t where she was or had been. Going back up the mountain was the only logical plan of action.

  Back at the hotel, it dawned on Abby; she didn’t own a gun. She was well aware of the dangers on Mount Perish. God knows Jesse had drilled it into her while she was there. She thought of the bearskin that hung in Jesse’s cabin as she asked, “Edith I’m going to need one more favor. Do you have a rifle I can borrow?”

  “A rifle? Dear, of course you can. But, are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”

  “Yes, I probably won’t even need it, but I’d feel a whole lot better having it with me, just in case. Thank you so much for everything.”

  “No need to thank me. Just find him. I’ll pray for all of you. Be careful out there.” Edith went to her bedroom to get her rifle. If Edith had known where Abby was really headed, she wouldn’t have let her out of her sight.

  Abby and Toby mounted the horse. Edith handed the rifle up to Toby.

  “I g-g-good with r-r-r-rifle,” he said. It was a declaration which surprised Abby.

  “That’s good, dear. Now, you hang on tight to that,” Edith said.

  Abby gave Titan a kick to the flanks. Just like that, the two were off, speeding toward the river, racing against the rising sun.

  Pushing Titan, they reached the river crossing before the sun came up. Abby jumped down, kicked off her boots and stockings, and then shoved them into her saddlebags. “Toby, I need you to stay here for a minute.”

  Abby walked to the edge of the embankment and stared down at the fast moving water. She thought, at first, she might do a trial run by putting her feet in to see how it felt. After seeing the water up close, she decided against it. Her fear would probably take over and panic would set in. She didn’t want to chicken out. She quickly tried to recall every detail Jesse had ever told her about crossing. It occurred to her she would have to make one major adjustment. She slipped her dress over her head and shoved it into her saddlebag. The pull of the water on the dress might be enough to sweep her off of her feet. Nothing about crossing in her corset would be lady like, but she had no other option.

  “Toby, you stay up there and hold on tight. Don’t let go. Understand?”

  Toby nodded and grabbed hold of the saddle horn, a look of fear on his face.

  “It’s going to be fine, Toby,” Abby said. She
took a deep breath, took hold of Titan’s bridle, and stepped into the water. “Just keep holding on.”

  She managed to find the ledge with her right leg. Whispering a silent prayer, Abby slowly stepped forward. Chancing a backwards glance, she caught sight of Toby’s wide, terrified eyes. “Toby,” she said, “this is going to be fun. Just hold on tight, and no matter what, don’t let go.” Abby took another step, putting her into the deep water. “Ready, Toby?”

  “R-r-r-ready!”

  Slowly, one cautious step at a time, Abby made her way across the mighty river. She shuffled her bare feet the way Jesse told her to. She could almost hear Jesse’s voice telling her to make sure she had good footing before taking the next step. Her knuckles were white from holding the bridle as she led Titan and Toby painstakingly across.

  When she made it to the opposite shore, she wanted nothing more than to collapse. Relieved and exhausted, she felt more spent than ever before.

  Toby seemed to enjoy the trip. “Let’s do it again.”

  “Not today, Toby. Not today,” Abby said, putting on her clothes. “We have to go find Jesse.”

  Abby and Toby rode for a few hours, hoping they might run into Jesse along the way. She knew Jesse’s routine; Jesse only traveled during the day.

  The sun had now been up for several hours and there was still no sign of Jesse. Abby had a sinking feeling. It occurred to her while she was traveling up the mountain, Jesse might still be on the other side of the Devil’s Fork. She couldn’t turn back now. She had to keep going.

  Abby prayed Jesse didn’t try to ride directly to the cabin without stopping. If that was the case, she would be forced to make the journey entirely on her own. She had no idea if she was capable of that. The challenges of coming down the mountain previously were a different matter altogether. It was easy to be confident with Jesse by her side. Now, she was responsible for not only her own life but Toby’s as well.

  Oh, Jesse, where are you?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jesse opened her eyes, blinked hard against the sunlight filtering down to the forest floor. Through the shadows cast by the towering pines, she stared at the dark lump next to the dying fire. As she focused, it morphed into her pistol. Lingering smoke from the embers fighting to stay alive floated on the breeze.

  Disoriented, she struggled to recall how she had gotten to this unfamiliar and desolate place in the woods. The world spun and she placed her hands on the ground for support. Sitting up was an effort. The slight movement sent pain surging through her body. The small rush of adrenaline brought clarity, the events of the previous night swimming into stunning focus.

  On the ground, alone and lost, she put a hand to the damp shirt clinging to her back. She knew it would come away red even before her bloodshot eyes saw the evidence. Her flank felt like it was on fire. She lifted her shirt and looked down at her charred flesh. At least it stopped bleeding.

  Jesse focused on the few remaining embers, their glow almost hypnotic, as she contemplated her situation. She didn’t have the strength to gather the wood and without fire there was no way to cauterize the exit wound on her back. Not that it mattered now, anyway. What she went through the first time was unbearable. She wasn’t sure she had the nerve to do it again. Her best chance for survival was to get out of the woods and find help before it was too late.

  The metallic scent of blood hung thick in the air. Buck reacted on pure animal instinct. Eyes wide, flags of black on white, he stood guard over his gravely wounded companion.

  After holstering her pistol, she pulled herself to her feet using a stirrup. The effort took more blood than she had to spare. The world turned and grew dimmer, less distinct. She clenched her teeth and summoned all the strength she could muster. Somehow, she hoisted herself onto the saddle without losing consciousness. The simple endeavor was now excruciating. Warm blood trickled down her back.

  There was a good chance of passing out. She knew it. She groped blindly through her saddlebag and pulled out a piece of rope. Head spinning and fingers shaking, she did what she could to secure herself to the saddle. She stared at the knot, pulled it, and checked it. She couldn’t remember if she tied it right or how it was supposed to look. It was just going to have to do. There was no way she could do it again.

  She gave Buck a tap to the flanks. So weak, she wasn’t sure he even felt it until he started walking. She rode slumped in the saddle. Even at his slowed pace, the agony of each step was almost more than she could take.

  Pain soon overwhelmed her. She slipped mercifully into unconsciousness. The horse wandered without guidance along the banks of the Devil’s Fork in the waning sunlight.

  Buck finally came to a stop. His master offered no guidance. He struck at the ground with his front hoof. The whinnying and head-tossing finally elicited a response from Jesse. She opened her eyes. Even in the dark, she recognized the moonlit crossing immediately.

  “Good boy, but we aren’t going home this time.” Her voice faded as she spoke. “This is as far as I go, my friend.” With trembling, bloodstained hands, she loosened the rope and slid down from the horse. She was too weak to stand; gravity took her. The already fuzzy world took another step away from her, taking some of her breath with it. She was so tired—more tired than ever before. All she wanted to do was sleep.

  The men who murdered her family had finally paid for their crimes. This gave her peace. Toby was safe with Abby. With the gold hidden in the cabin, they would have a comfortable life. They’d never have to struggle for anything again. This would be the end for Jesse and she could accept that.

  A vision of Abby floated before her eyes, bringing a smile to her lips. “I loved you from the moment I saw you, Abigail Flanagan. I always have. Always will,” she whispered. Her eyes fluttered and finally closed as she surrendered to the darkness

  Several miles up the mountain, Abby closed her eyes. She didn’t want to, but they’d been open since the night before. She desperately needed sleep, if only for a few minutes. It had taken everything she had to get this far. She had nothing left.

  Thank God Toby is here, she thought. He secured Titan for the night; she didn’t have the energy for that. After the horse was secure, Abby and Toby lay together on the frigid ground. They shared a blanket. Toby fell asleep almost instantly and snored loudly beside her. She understood Toby didn’t like to talk much, and his mental capacity wasn’t what it should be. Still, she was grateful to have a man his size next to her.

  Abby burrowed closer to Toby, thankful for his body heat. She was exhausted but powerless to quiet the storm raging through her mind. Did I do the right thing? Is Jesse on the mountain or still on the other side of the river?

  She had come too far to turn back now. Good or bad, she’d see where this path led. A wolf howled in the distance and she nestled even closer to Toby. Her tired eyes didn’t want to close anymore.

  Toby stirred. His snoring stopped briefly and then continued as if he was accustomed to sleeping in such a scary place. Abby was miserable. She remembered telling Jesse about her trip to California on the stagecoach, and how she couldn’t imagine anything more awful. And all because I was uncomfortable, cramped in a small space and covered in dust with some smelly men. That trip was nothing compared to this.

  At least during that trip she had been safe and warm. Now, she was cold and afraid, lying in the middle of the forest like a piece of live bait. Her eyelids grew heavier and she couldn’t fight her fatigue any longer. Even as the howls closed in around them, Abby fell asleep, whispering into the night sky, “I’m coming, Jesse.”

  The sun lit the sky when Abby woke. She slept longer than she wanted to and was anxious to be up and moving again. Her body cried for more rest. She could spare it none. Her joints cracked loud enough to make her flinch as she stood, her body unused to sleeping on the cold forest floor.

  “Let’s get going, Toby,” she said, gently shaking the sleeping man by the shoulder. His size was that of a man, but his moan of protest t
hat of a boy. As she shook him again, Abby had to remind herself to be patient. Toby may not understand everything that was happening.

  Once roused, he was up and moving. The sudden wake-up did nothing to diminish his energy. “Can I t-t-take the reins. I may st-st-stutter, but I’m not stupid. I c-c-can handle a horse. Can shoot, too.”

  “I don’t think you’re stupid,” Abby said. She handed him the reins. “We just need to make sure we follow the right path or we’ll get lost.”

  The ride was tempered by familiarity. They soon reached the first marked tree. “Want to play a game? Sorta like hide and seek?” Abby asked.

  Toby smiled and nodded.

  “There are several trees that have markings like this. Can you help me find them?”

  “I’m good at t-this game.” Toby’s smile widened. “I can find ‘em.” He had a keen eye. Whenever he saw one of the special trees, he jumped in the saddle and called out, “There’s one.”

  “You won. But I bet I find the next one before you.” She never failed at enticing him to look for the next carving. They continued riding throughout the day with Abby resting her head against Toby’s back.

  “There’s one,” he called out, startling her again. It was for the best. She couldn’t afford to fall asleep, despite her worsening fatigue. She played along with Toby, watching out and reaffirming they were continuing in the right direction.

  As the purple gray of twilight filled the sky, Abby took the reins from Toby. She decided to keep going even though she knew Jesse would tell her she was being reckless. There was no way she was going to spend another night sleeping on the hard ground, forest noises all around her.

  Some of the tree markings were much harder to spot in certain areas. Towering trees obscured the moonlight, forcing her to dismount throughout the night for a closer look. Each time, she stumbled into the underbrush with the lantern, verifying they were still on the correct path.