“This should help pay for any damages,” exclaimed Jess.
“I don’t know if you should be taking his stuff, Jess. It doesn’t seem right,” alleged the barkeep.
“He won’t need it anymore,” he replied briskly. “Besides, as far as I see it, I’ve earned it. Is that his horse out there?” The barkeep nodded affirmatively.
“I’ll be taking that, too then.”
“Don’t matter to me. I mind my own business, Jess,” the barkeep said timidly.
“I’ll be selling the horse and saddle. If you need any more money to clean up or fix any damages, you see Mr. Jameson at the bank and he’ll give you the money, okay?” Jess stated.
“Sure thing, but this is more than enough,” he countered. Jess walked out of the saloon and Sara was standing in the middle of the street with her hands over her mouth.
“Oh my Lord, Jess, what have you done?” asked Sara.
“I did what was needed, Sara,” he answered briskly. “I’ve got some business to take care of. When I’m done, I’ll stop by and see you and Jim before I leave, okay?”
Sara nodded and headed down the street toward the general store. Jess walked the horse over to the stables and sold the horse and the saddle. He sold the rifle he found on Red’s horse to the gunsmith and he took the money to Jameson and deposited it. He kept Red’s .45. He figured it was always good to have extra weapons handy. Then he walked over to Jim and Sara’s store. He found Jim behind the counter and Sara sitting in a chair at the end of the counter by the small wood stove that Jim used to heat up the front of the store. They both looked up at Jess when he walked in as if they didn’t even know him anymore.
“Jess,” said Jim, “I know what you’re planning to do and it’s no life for a young man. Is there any way we can talk you out of this?” Jess looked Jim straight in the eyes and gave a simple one word answer.
“No,” he stated firmly.
Sara wiped more tears from her eyes and said, “Jess, you just killed a man over at the saloon and you don’t seem the slightest bit bothered by it. I swear you are not the same boy.”
“I’m not a boy anymore and I’m surely not the same person you knew before,” he replied softly. Red Carter needed to be killed and I won’t apologize for it to anyone. I only hope that you won’t hate me for it.”
“We could never hate you, Jess,” said Sara. “We will always consider you family. We just don’t want to see you turn to this way of life. Using a gun is not a good way to live. It’s a good way to die.”
“I don’t plan on dying, but I’m not afraid of it either,” he said with meaning.
“Jess, where in the hell did you get that gun?” asked Jim.
Jess let his palm touch the butt of the pistol. “Let’s just say it came to me.”
“Was it your pa’s?” pressed Jim.
“I’m not rightly sure, but it’s my gun now,” he replied. “Anyway, I have to leave now. The sheriff told me last week that he had a lead on one of the men who killed my family. He said that he was involved in a shooting up in Tarkenton about two hundred miles northwest of here. I intend to hunt the bastard down and kill him.”
“Like Red Carter?” asked Sara, still wiping tears from her eyes.
“Yes, only worse,” he replied ominously. “I plan on letting that son-of-a-bitch die a little bit slower.”
“Oh Jess,” Sara said in almost a whisper. Jim looked at Sara and he knew what she was thinking. She figured it was time to tell Jess something she would never reveal if his family was still alive, but there was no reason to hold back the truth any longer.
“Jess, there is something that we need to tell you,” said Sara, still trying to compose herself. “Your parents swore us to never tell you about this, but now they’re gone and we think you should know.”
“Know what?” he asked.
“Jess, you have other family,” interjected Jim. Jess turned to look at Jim with a look of disbelief.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked intensely, a bewildered look on his face. “I don’t have any other family. My family was murdered.” Jim hung his head and began to speak in a quiet, deliberate tone.
“Jess, John Williams was a good man and a better friend; but he wasn’t your real pa…”
“That’s not true!” retorted Jess, cutting Jim off in midsentence. Jim cleared his throat and gathered his emotions so he could continue.
“Jess, your real father was a man by the name of Ed Sloan. He’s a gunslinger and a gambler who was taken with your ma the minute he saw her. I tried to tell her he was no good for her, but she wouldn’t listen. Don’t blame your ma, Jess. She was young and he was as slick as they come. She spent some time with him and she ended up pregnant with you…and your brother, Tim.” Jess sat down in the other chair in the front of the store stunned by this revelation about another part of his family he had never known about. Jim cleared his throat and continued.
“After your ma had the two of you, your real father took off with your twin brother and a gal from Dixie’s he’d gotten close to while your ma was with child. Her name was Sally. He was a no good son-of-a-bitch and he hurt your ma. Last we heard about your brother Tim, he’d taken up the gun and hear tell he’s mighty fast with one. Your father, Ed, is even faster. The two of them are no good and you should think twice before you have anything to do with them if you have any sense, Jess. Anyway, we figured you had a right to know,” explained Jim.
Jess couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The thought of all this just balled his nerves up in a knot that found its way to his throat. Then, he made a decision right then and there. He couldn’t let all this distract him now. He would have to deal with it later.
He stood up and looked at Jim and Sara. “Do you know where they are now?”
“Last we heard they were both in Wichita,” replied Jim. “That was quite a while ago though. They could be almost anywhere by now.”
“Thanks for telling me,” replied Jess. “But, I still have to go.”
“No you don’t,” cried Sara, almost desperately, “you can stay here with us.”
Jess thought for a moment, but he knew in his mind there was no turning back now. His mind was made up. Sara and Jim saw the look in his eyes and they both realized it too. They both knew he was going to live or die by the gun. Sara stood up and walked to Jess and gave him a long hug. Jess turned to Jim and extended his hand. Jim shook Jess’s hand, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time he did so.
“I’m going to miss the both of you,” said Jess. “I’ll keep in touch and if you need anything, tell Jameson over at the bank. He’ll know where I am most of the time.”
Jess hung his head for a moment and without another word he walked down the steps and to his horse, climbed up in the saddle and headed out of Black Creek. He never looked back. Jim and Sara were both standing on the front porch of the store watching him ride away. They were holding hands and exchanging glances. Sara looked at Jim as Jess finally turned the corner.
“Do you think we’ll ever see him again?” she asked.
“I hope so, Sara, I surely hope so.”
“Me too,” she said, starting to cry again.
As Jess turned the corner at the end of the street, his thoughts turned to what Jim and Sara just told him about his brother and father. He knew he would eventually track them down, but not until he finished his business at hand. He made up his mind right then and there that he would always consider John as his real pa no matter what else was true.
His thoughts turned to Randy Hastings. There was one thing he was sure of. He knew that Randy Hastings was one of the three men who murdered his family. He also knew he was going to find him, confront him and then kill him. Of that, he was certain. His journey had begun. It would not be over until all three of the men who murdered his family were in their graves. Only then would justice be served. He rode out of Black Creek and headed for Tarkenton. Destiny would meet him there…at least part of it.
; CHAPTER EIGHT
Jess rode all day watching the landscape change as he went along. He had never been anywhere away from his home and was seeing everything for the first time. He stopped along a creek for some lunch that consisted of jerky and biscuits Sara had given him. He continued along until he found a nice place to bed down for the night. He picked a site several hundred feet off the trail in a clump of trees and bushes to give him plenty of cover. He leaned his saddle against the largest of the trees to give his back some cover while he slept. He started a very small fire and warmed up some beans. He had another biscuit with the beans and then he made some coffee. Just after dark, he leaned back against the saddle to sleep. He covered himself with a light blanket. Not because he was cold, but mostly to cover his weapon in case someone came in the night. He laid the shotgun across his lap and he slept with his gun strapped on. He did not sleep well that night.
He rose at dawn and made some coffee, salt pork and pan bread. Then he took some time to practice with his pistol, which was something he would do every day. He broke camp and saddled up and headed back on the trail. Gray was a sturdy horse and Jess pushed him hard. It took Jess six days to reach the outskirts of Tarkenton, where he camped about two miles outside of town. After breaking camp in the morning, he rode up to the end of the main street of Tarkenton. He stopped for a few minutes to look the town over. It was a small town with only about fifteen buildings. There were several people along the street and a couple of people standing together in front of one of the buildings. He dismounted and walked his horse into town. One of the first buildings in town he came to was the livery. He walked Gray over to it and a young boy came out and greeted him.
“Howdy, mister,” he said, “do you need me to take care of your horse?”
“What’s your name, son?” he asked.
“Billy; and yours?” he asked.
“It’s nice to meet you, Billy. My name is Jess and I’d like you to take care of my horse Gray here. He’s had a long, hard ride and he needs a good brushing and some of your best feed. If you promise to take extra care of him, there’s a dollar a day in it for you.”
“Golly, a whole dollar each day?” exclaimed Billy. “That’s more than I make in any day, mister. You got yourself a deal, only don’t say anything to the owner. He’s a mean old cuss. And don’t tell him about the good feed or he’ll want to charge you extra for it.”
“You’ve got a deal, son,” replied Jess. “Where does a man get a good room and a good meal around here?”
“You can get both at the same place,” he replied keenly. “The town hotel has rooms and they serve some pretty good food. It’s right across from the saloon. Right over there,” he said, pointing over to the hotel.
“Thanks Billy. Is Sheriff Manley around?”
“Yeah, he’s probably over at the saloon. He ain’t much of a sheriff though. Scared of his own shadow.”
Jess remembered the little speech that Sheriff Diggs gave him about some of the small-town lawmen not really willing and able to do their jobs. Jess tossed Billy a silver dollar and he caught it and quickly dropped it into his front pocket. He smiled and took Gray into the livery.
Jess looked down the street and spotted the saloon. He felt his stomach growl and decided to go to the hotel and get a hot bath and some grub before he spoke to the sheriff. He walked into the hotel and up to the counter. The desk clerk smiled nervously.
“Need a room?” asked the clerk.
“Yeah, and if you throw in a hot bath and a good meal, I’ll consider you a friend,” replied Jess.
“Well, we can take care of all that right here,” he offered. “Dining room is right in the back and I’ll give you room twelve upstairs with a view of the street. I’ll take your stuff up to your room if you want,” said the clerk. Jess signed the register and paid the clerk for one day, not knowing how long he would be in town.
“I’ll take my stuff up myself and I don’t want any visitors. I also don’t want anyone in my room, not even to clean the linens, understand?” he asked firmly. The clerk looked at him kind of funny and smiled.
“No problem, it’s your room as long as you’re paying for it. I’ll have someone prepare you a nice hot bath.”
“Thanks,” he replied. I’ll be down in a few minutes after I get settled in my room. Make the water extra hot.”
“Hot and clean and an extra towel to boot,” exclaimed the clerk. “You look like you’ve been on the trail for a while.”
“Long enough,” said Jess, as he took the key and went upstairs. He looked out the window to see what view he had and to see if anyone could come in the window easily.
He never realized just how good a hot bath could feel, especially when you haven’t had the chance to get one for some time. He soaked in the bath until the water started to cool. He kept his gun within easy reach by pulling a table up to the bath. He got dressed and headed to the dining room. The dining room was small and there were only a few people inside eating. There was a barkeep standing behind the bar and he looked up at Jess as he entered the dining area.
“You hungry?” asked the barkeep.
“As a bear,” replied Jess, rubbing his stomach. “What have you got on the menu today?”
“We only have one special a day,” said the barkeep. “Today is ham and potatoes and it’s really good.”
“Then I guess I’m eating ham and potatoes.”
“Martha will be out in a minute to get your order,” said the barkeep.
Jess sat down at a table in the corner, away from the door and the few people who were in the dining room. The barkeep kept looking Jess over, paying close attention to the shotgun Jess had strapped to his back. The barkeep came over to Jess’ table with a pot of coffee and poured Jess a cup of it.
“You expecting trouble, son?” the barkeep asked.
“Why do you ask?”
“You sure got enough hardware hanging on you,” he replied. “Are you one of those bounty hunters?”
“I could be,” replied Jess. “Is there someone in town that has a bounty on his head?”
The barkeep smiled. “Hell, there’s always someone in this town that needs hunting. If you’re looking for trouble, you’ll sure find plenty of it here.”
“I ain’t exactly looking for trouble, but I ain’t shying from any either.”
“Well, enjoy your lunch,” said the barkeep. “Martha will be out soon.”
Less than a minute later, a young girl with dark red hair came out of the kitchen and stopped at a table and dropped off two plates of food. As she did, she noticed Jess sitting at the table in the corner. She headed for Jess’s table and smiled as she walked toward him. The smile turned to a look of concern when she spotted the butt of the shotgun sticking up over his right shoulder. She almost paused, but continued.
“What can I get for you today?” asked Martha.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought and decided to take the special,” he said smiling.
Martha smiled again. “So, Sam told you about the special already, did he?”
“Yes. I’m afraid he beat you to it,” he said. “You wouldn’t happen to have any apple pie today, would you?”
“You’re in luck,” she said. Fresh baked this morning. You’ll like it. It’s the best apple pie anywhere around here.”
“You make it?”
“Of course; don’t I look like a woman who can make great apple pie?” she asked smartly, her hands on her hips now.
“As a matter-of-fact, you look just like a woman who can make great apple pie.”
Martha turned and walked back into the kitchen. Jess tried the coffee. It was just how he liked it, hot and strong. Jess turned his glance toward the door as he saw a man enter the doorway. The man acted like he wasn’t sure if he was going to come in or not. The man carried a single six-shooter slung extra low, but not tied down. Jess sized him up and figured him for a local troublemaker and one who was not as fast with a gun as he thought he was.
; The man was Scott Vogan, a local ranch hand who worked for a ranch called the Last “C” and he came into town a few times a week to get serviced at the local cathouse, as well as get drunk and raise a little hell. Scott had a slight crush on the waitress Martha, which is what kept him coming back to the hotel. The barkeep, Sam, noticed Vogan standing in the doorway.
“Scott,” Sam said with a stern voice, “I thought I told you not to come back in here today.”
“Yeah, well you ain’t the owner here and what you say don’t mean shit,” argued Vogan, as he walked over to the bar and leaned on it. “Now give me a shot of that good stuff you keep under the bar.”
“Alright,” protested Sam, “but this is the last one today and I mean it. You want anymore and you’ll have to see the boss. I don’t care how tough you think you are.”
“Well, that’s a start, barkeep,” Vogan said with an ugly sneer.
Martha came out carrying Jess’s plate of food and as she walked toward his table, she noticed Vogan. She ignored his stare and took Jess his plate of food.
“It sure looks and smells good,” Jess said.
“You’ll like it,” she replied. “You want some more coffee?”
“Yes and keep it coming.”
“Hey, Martha,” Scott hollered across the room, “how about you take the rest of the afternoon off and spend some time with me? I’ll make it well worth your while.” Martha shot Vogan a glaring look.
“I’ve got work to do, Scott,” she said tensely. “And even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t spend any of my time with the likes of you. I thought I’d made that quite clear to you on more than one occasion. I’m not one of them whores down at Julie’s place that you can buy for a few silver dollars. Now leave me alone, you hear?”
Jess took another sip of coffee and looked up at Martha.
“Problem?” asked Jess.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” she replied. What’s your name? I haven’t seen you around here before.”
The RECKONING: A Jess Williams Western Page 7