“Drop the gun Jimmy...I don’t want to hurt either one of you.” Jesse comanded in a steely tone.
Jimmy looked to Lou who had been silent thus far. Her back was straight, and she was trying to mask the fear he was sure was surging through her at that moment. She turned to look at him, urging him with her eyes to do as he was told. Cursing under his breath, he put the gun back in the holster and stared defiantly at the tall man.
Jesse laughed and walked closer. “You don’t mind if I take that gunbelt from you now, do you Jimmy?” he asked mockingly.
Jimmy silently complied with Jesse’s order, but instead of handing the belt to him, he threw it to the ground, watching in satisfaction as Jesse bent over to pick it up. As Jesse straightened himself, he came to stand in front of the older man. They both regarded eachother cooly, and would have stood that way for a while had Lou not spoken.
“What are you doin’ here Jesse?”
“What, don’t tell me you ain’t happy to see me Lou.” Jesse responded, coming to tower over her.
“There was a time I would have been...but now...” Lou’s voice trailed off as she thought of all the things she’d heard about him.
Jesse lowered his eyes, but said nothing for a moment. Then he looked up to meet Jimmy’s eyes over Lou’s shoulder. He smiled crookedly, and removed his hat. “Well Lou...you’re just goin’ to have to set aside your feelin’s...seems like we’re gonna be spendin’ some time together.”
“What are you talkin’ about?” Jimmy asked.
“This don’t concern you Hickok, so stay out of it.” Jesse warned. He looked back to Lou, the smile gone from his face. “You’re comin’ with me for a few days.”
“If you think I’m goin’ anywhere--”
Jesse cut off her protest as he shoved his gun painfully into her side, causing her to gasp in surprise. Jimmy made a move to approach them, but the silmutaneous clicking of gun hammers from Jesse’s companions stopped him in his tracks.
“Oh, I ain’t askin’ Lou. You see, The army’s got Frank...”
“What does that have to do with me?” Lou asked. “They’re bringing him through here on the way to Laramie.”
“So?”
“Kid ain’t gonna allow them to go no further if I got his precious wife...I plan on making an even exchange.”
“And what if he refuses?” Jimmy asked quietly.
“He’ll be a widower.” Jesse said simply as he grabbed Lou’s arm and drug her to his horse.
“You’d hurt her?”
“If I had to...now it’s been real nice visitin’ with you Jimmy, but we got to be goin’. You tell Kid I’ll be in touch real soon.” Jesse said as he boosted Lou onto his horse.
“I ain’t gonna let you do this Jesse.” Jimmy cautioned.
Jesse said nothing as he walked over to Jimmy. Suddenly with lightning speed he brought the butt of his gun against the side of Jimmy’s head, sending the man crashing to the ground. Lou jumped off the horse and ran to Jimmy’s side, kneeling down.
“Have you forgotten everything he’s done for you? Everything we’ve done?” Lou yelled as her fingers gently caressed the welt already beginning to show on his handsome face.
“Get up Lou...we ain’t got time for this.”
When Lou made no move to stand up, he dragged her roughly to her feet. He tightened his grip on her arm, but she refused to allow him to know that he was hurting her. “What’s happened to you?” Lou asked softly.
“More than you know.” Jesse answered cryptically as he mounted his horse, pulling her up behind him.
Lou looked behind her at Jimmy’s prone figure as Jesse spurred his horse away. She was filled with dread. She didn’t think that Jesse would hurt her, but there was something in his eyes that scared her. She sent a silent prayer that Jimmy would be all right, that they all would.
*****************************************************
Jimmy brought his hand up to his temple and winced in pain. He squinted his eyes against the blaring sunlight and suddenly sat up as he remembered Lou. The sudden motion caused him to double over, nauseated.
He had to get to town and warn the others. He had no idea where Jesse was taking Lou, but he figured it couldn’t be too far if he was planning on contacting Kid. Kid. He definitely was not looking forward to explaining to his friend what had happened to his wife.
Guilt began to overwhelm him at his inability to protect the petite woman. he wanted to believe that Lou would be all right, but there was something about Jesse that made Jimmy shiver inwardly.
TO BE CONTINUED......CHAPTER 5
