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“Well, maybe you should tell me those instructions or I’ll just shoot the cook you’re so fond of. Surely that pretty wife of yours can keep us all fed.”
Jesse never took his eyes off Jack but she could tell by the set of his shoulders and the way he straightened his spine he was ready for a fight.
“It would be a shame to lose him,” Jesse said. “But I’ll not let you have the herd if you kill him.”
“Really? Well, what about this one?” He pointed the gun at Owen. “Or this one?” He turned and pointed it at Ben. “Or maybe that one?”
He turned in circles, pointing the gun at everyone before he turned back to them, the smile on his face showing too much glee for a man contemplating murder. “Or maybe that pretty wife of yours?”
Jesse placed himself in front of her and laid his hand on the pistol at his hip. “You’ll have to go through me to get to her.”
“Isn’t that sweet? They’re both willing to die for the other. It must be love.” He laughed and shook his head, then sighed. “If I had known you were going to make this so difficult, I would have killed you days ago.”
Jack holstered the derringer and turned back to the fire, toeing one of the logs that had fallen to the side and pushing it closer to the burning embers. “I’m tired,” he said. “Let’s finish this discussion in the morning. Whoever is supposed to be watching that herd best get back out there. I want every head accounted for.”
Alex saw Lewis move out of the corner of her eye. When she looked his way, he smiled and raised one eyebrow. “Best keep you two separated,” he said before reaching out to grab her. His fingers barely brushed the material on her shirt sleeve before Jesse had pulled his pistol and had the barrel aimed at Lewis’ forehead.
“Lay one finger on her and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
“Leave her be,” Jack said. “You’ll have plenty of women to choose from once we hit Dodge City.”
“Maybe, but I’m lonely right now.”
Jack looked their way, a bored expression on his face. “Then good luck moving faster than a bullet.” He sat down, leaned back against a log and pulled his hat over his eyes.
Lewis stared at Jesse who still held the barrel of his pistol to the man’s head. She wasn’t sure how long they would have stood there like that if Jeb, one of Lewis’ buddies hadn’t come over and pulled him away.
When they were just a dark mass of shapes moving in the night, Alex let out the breath she’d been holding. “I don’t think he’s coming back.”
“If he’s smart he won’t.” Jesse didn’t holster the gun. It hung in his grip as he grabbed her arm with the other hand and led her to the wagon where Isaac and Owen stood.
Ben followed them, as did a few of the cowboys her pa had hired.
Everyone had questions and they were all directed at Jesse. She let him handle the inquiry and moved to stand in front of Isaac. “Are you all right?”
He nodded. “Takes more than a bump on the head to do me in.”
“Does it need stitching?”
“No. It’s already stopped bleeding.” He nodded his head toward Jesse. “What’s the plan?”
Alex shook her head. “We don’t have one. Not yet.”
“Jesse will think of something.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Jesse broke away from the others and turned. “Go to bed, Alex. I’ll sit watch out here to make sure we don’t get any more surprises.”
“How do you expect me to sleep after everything that’s happened?”
“I don’t know but one of us needs to be rested and thinking clearly come morning.”
“Then you would be the better choice than me. You sleep, I’ll keep watch.”
He laughed. “I don’t think so.”
“Then both of you go get some sleep.” Isaac sat back down and leaned against the wagon wheel. “My head hurts too much to sleep anyway. I’ll keep watch and wake you both if I see anything you should be aware of.”
