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Jesse hesitated long moments before nodding his head. “Wake me in two hours and I’ll take over for you.” He guided her toward the back of the wagon where their saddlebags and bedroll was stored and motioned her under when Jack’s voice broke through the darkness.
“I’ll be needing that gun you have, hero. I don’t trust you not to shoot me in my sleep.”
Silas was grinning as he walked their way and held his hand out when he reached them. “Hand it over.”
The look on Jesse’s face said they’d have to take it and Alex already knew they wanted him gone. She also knew they’d shoot him before they let him keep it.
Reaching for the pistol, she met his gaze and tugged a bit. “Don’t give them a reason to kill you tonight. We need you to get us all out of this safely.”
He held off so long she didn’t think he was going to let go. When he did, relief caused the pent up breath she’d been holding to whoosh out in an audible sigh.
Silas collected guns from the others scattered around the campfire, tossing them into a bag and laying them near Jack’s side.
Whatever plan they came up with to take back control would have to be without a weapon.
Alex was tuckedunder his arm as they lay beneath the wagon and he still couldn’t relax.
The ring of light from the campfire was too dim and he wanted to lift the canvas covering the side of the wagon to keep an eye on Jack and his men but he didn’t want them to think he was as worried as he was.
They were three weeks from Dodge City and he wasn’t sure how they’d handle the journey with Jack calling the shots. Without a weapon, he felt useless. How was he going to protect Alex if those men decided to take her for their own pleasure?
“Jesse, I can’t breathe.”
He looked down and realized his hold on her was getting tighter and lifted his arm. “Sorry.”
She rolled over to face him. “Can’t sleep?”
“No.”
“Me either. Any ideas on what to do?”
“Only one.” He reached toward her face and moved a strand of hair from her forehead. “Before the sun comes up, I’ll saddle your horse. I want you to leave, ride ahead and find the sheriff in Dodge City and tell him what’s happening.”
“Are you out of your mind?” She sat up on one elbow and stared at him. “I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are. I can’t watch the herd and figure out a way to get control back and have to worry about you as well.”
“And if they decide to shoot you the minute they realize I’m gone?”
At least he didn’t have to worry about her jumping in front of a moving bullet again when they did.
He wasn’t stupid. Jack may have let him live but he knew it was only temporary. If not tomorrow, one day before they reached Dodge City, he’d end up with a bullet in his head and Alex would be at the mercy of men who would use her for whatever they wanted.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. “I can’t protect you without my gun, Alex. I need to know you’re safe from these men so you have to leave.”
“You don’t need a gun and I can protect myself.”
He chuckled. “And how do you plan on doing that?”
“Ever been hit with a cast iron skillet? I saw Isaac take down a rabid dog with one when I was little. Poor critter went crazy and started attacking everything that moved and before pa could get his gun, Isaac had knocked him silly. I’m sure those bandits would fall just as hard if hit with one.”
“You mean to take them out with a skillet?”
“If I have to.”
“We’ll go down in history as the only people to take down criminals with cooking pots.”
She smacked him lightly on the chest. “I’m serious. Without the guns, we’ll just have to use what we can and the element of surprise. Besides, I’d rather stay here with you.”
