Walker's Rules

by Joannie Kay

  “I don’t think I like what you are suggesting,” Jessie looked at the man in horror.

  “Miss Bridges, the facts are the facts. You were caught stealing. I have no choice but to either sentence you to the Women’s Territorial Prison for a year or turn you over to Walker as his wife. Your choice is either marriage or prison, and I know that I would choose marriage any day of the week.”

  “Are you going to let him get away with this, Walker?” she turned to the big man to ask incredulously.

  “Jessie, I’m not about to let you go to prison. You wouldn’t last inside of there for a week before some guard would get you alone and rape you. I compromised you once before I knew you were grown… and again after I knew… I didn’t have a right to bare you for a spanking, and Judge Slater knows that. Do you think marriage to me would be worse than prison?” he demanded.

  “I don’t want to get married!” she stomped her foot.

  “Give it a year, Jessie,” Walker said quietly. “If at the end of a year, you want to leave, I’ll grant you a divorce… or an annulment. You will be safe here, at least, and you’ll be able to stay with Billy while he finishes out his time.”

  “Why can’t you release Billy into my custody and let me take him home?” she demanded of Judge Slater.

  “Because Walker compromised you, Miss Bridges,” the man said stubbornly. “Now, I really want to get this tied up and get home to my sweet wife. I don’t have much earthly time left with her, and I want to be at her side when God calls her Home. I pray the two of you discover the kind of love that Annabelle and I have shared for forty-three years.”

  Jessie couldn’t believe it, but within five minutes time she found herself married to Walker Ames. The Sheriff congratulated them sincerely, and also offered his apologies to Jessie and assured her that he’d learned something from the incident. In spite of her shock at finding herself married, she could tell that Tanner was sincere in his apologies to her, and she accepted his word that he would make sure no female prisoner felt threatened as Jessie had. He smiled and said his Mama would switch him proper if she were here to do so, and Jessie had to giggle at the thought. Judge Slater kissed her on the cheek and shook Walker’s hand, and the two men left as quickly as they arrived, leaving her alone with her new husband.

  “Jessie, you don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t force you to be my wife in a physical way. I just want to keep you safe and out of prison.”

  “I do appreciate that, Walker,” Jessie said quietly. “I don’t understand why you felt I was compromised, however. There was nothing sexual in what happened.”

  “Jessie, folks talk, whether they know the truth of things or not; even those boys out there. They know I tanned you… and that I bared you first. One innocent comment from one of them to someone in town, and your reputation would be shredded. Folks tend to think the worst. Besides, I tell the boys they have to accept responsibility for their actions. I needed to do the same or I would be a hypocrite, and I am not that. We’ll make the best of this situation, and I’d like a chance for us to start over again. Clean slate for both of us. Can you do that?” he asked.

  Jessie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I can do that, Walker.”

  “I still won’t let you get away with bad language or disrespect… and I’ll expect you to help Mrs. Gibbons. I guess that doesn’t sound right,” he admitted, running his hand through his hair in exasperation with himself. “You’re my wife and it should be the other way around,” he said in embarrassment.

  “It is what it is. I’ll be a guest who chooses to help out to have something useful to do, but I warn you now, Walker, I will come and go as I please. I have some business matters to attend to.” Jessie turned on her heel and walked from the room, unable to believe that she’d gone through with the ridiculous idea of marriage to the big man.

  She heard the boys in the dining room, and a peek through the doorway told her that they were all hard at work, including her brother. She smiled and went on to the kitchen, trying to ignore the fact she wasn’t feeling well. If she stayed busy, it would pass.

  “I’ve been on pins and needles, dear. What happened?” Mrs. Gibbons asked curiously.

  “Judge Slater insisted that I marry Walker,” Jessie told the truth, unaware that Walker was standing in the doorway listening to every word.

  “As well he should have!” Mrs. Gibbons said indignantly. “You were compromised, dear. When is the wedding to be?” she asked.

  “It’s a done deal; the Judge just married us. I want to start that chocolate cake we promised the boys,” she said, trying to stay calm.

  “Ohhhhh,” the woman’s face fell. “I guess I won’t be needed any longer…”

  Jessie whirled to look at her. “I don’t care for what you are thinking, Mrs. Gibbons. As far as I am concerned, I am just a guest here for the next year… and I will come and go as I please. You are very much needed here, and totally in charge of this kitchen and this house as you have been. I’ll be happy to help you out when I’m here… Okay? Please don’t leave… It’s not like Walker and I are in a real marriage. We’re not. We’ve just got a truce for a year.”

  “You two aren’t even going to try to make this marriage work?” The woman was scandalized.

  Walker decided it was time for him to step in. “Mrs. Gibbons, Jessie and I just met this morning. I thought she was a boy at first… It’s too soon for us to have any kind of feelings for each other. Judge Slater would have sent her to prison for a year if she didn’t marry me, and I wasn’t about to let that happen. Jessie is my legal wife, but we will maintain separate bedrooms and try to be friends at least. She wants to help out while she’s here, and I’m fine with that,” Walker stated firmly. “We hope you know how much we need you here. Will you stay on, ma’am?” he asked politely.

  “Well, of course I will,” the older woman answered with a smile, and then she added, “I think you two will soon learn that you were brought together for a reason. Mark my words now.”

  Jessie blushed, and Walker felt his face flush. “I’d better go and make sure the boys don’t need help with their studies. Jessie, we’ll have a talk tonight about money and getting you some new clothing. I’ll set it up at the store so you can get personal items and such.” He turned then and left the room.

  “Now, that is sweet as can be. Walker is generous to a fault, dear. We’ll get you some new things made in no time.”

  “He doesn’t have to do that, Mrs. Gibbons,” Jessie looked after the big man, surprise in her green eyes.

  “A man likes to take care of his wife. It’s the thing to do.”

  Jessie busied herself baking a cake, and helping Mrs. Gibbons put together an evening meal. Her sore bottom was a constant reminder that the surreal situation was indeed very real and she was truly married to Walker Ames. She was shocked when Billy came to see her in the kitchen and gave her a brotherly hug and asked if she was okay with being married to Walker. She realized then that Walker had told the boys and was dealing with their questions. She did her best to reassure Billy, and asked him to keep their personal business personal until she found the right time to discuss matters with Walker. Billy nodded in understanding, and then went to join the others outside.

  Jessie had just finished putting icing on her cake and was considering going to her room to lie down because her stomach hurt so much, when Billy came running for her.

  “Jess, come quick. There’s a man here with your things from the stage!”

  Jessie followed her brother outside, and found Walker talking to a man who was standing in front of a wagon containing her trunk and her valise.

  “Jessie, this is Deputy Ted Williams. Tanner wired the stage office and told them you were alive and well and they sent him to bring your things here and ask you a few questions about the robbery.”

  “This is a pleasant surprise, Deputy Williams. I didn’t think to recover any of my belongings,” she smiled at the man.

  “We sure a
re sorry about the holdup, ma’am. We looked for you for a long time. Do you suppose you could tell us about the robbers?” he asked.

  “I would be happy to do that. Walker, do you have some paper and a pencil I could use?” she turned to him to ask.

  “Ma’am, I promise I will remember whatever you tell me,” the man seemed offended.

  “I’m sure you will. I am going to draw pictures of them for you,” she explained.

  “You can do that?” he asked in surprise.

  “Jessie can draw really good,” Billy offered his opinion.

  “That’s great. I’d be grateful to you, Mrs. Ames.”

  Jessie felt her cheeks turn red. It was the first time someone addressed her by her married name, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it, either. Walker looked just as uncomfortable. “Let’s go inside. I have paper and pencils in my study,” he stated.

  Jessie wasn’t one to waste time. She started drawing with confidence, and it didn’t take long to put the three faces on paper. She handed them to Deputy Williams and he whistled.

  “These are good, Mrs. Ames, and proves what we figured. This is the Simpson Gang; Derek, Davis, and Donald; brothers. You’re lucky you were able to escape, ma’am,” he said matter-of-factly. “They like to hurt females.”

  “Do you have any idea where they live?” Jessie asked.

  “Why would you want to know that, ma’am?” the Deputy was shocked.

  “They have something of mine and I want it back,” she explained.

  Walker looked at her speculatively, recalling all of Billy’s warnings. “What are you thinking to do, Jessie? Go after them?” he asked in a teasing tone of voice, but the look in her green eyes gave him to know that he was correct! “Oh no, you are not,” he said firmly.

  “They have my Mama’s locket, Walker. I want it back.”

  “You will let the law deal with them. Once they capture them, we’ll get your locket back,” he promised.

  “You can’t go after them yourself, Mrs. Ames!” the deputy said, his eyes wide at the very thought of her doing such a thing.

  “I can do anything I please, Deputy Williams,” she smiled and got to her feet. “Thank you so much for bringing my things. I do appreciate it very much,” she told him, and then left the room to find Billy waiting in the hallway.

  “Jake and I took your trunk up to your room, Jess,” he said with a grin. “I think you’ll be pleased,” he whispered for her ears alone.

  “Really?” she asked hopefully.

  “Didn’t look to be disturbed. Of course your clothes are all messed up and wrinkled,” he added. “You’re going to have some serious ironing to do.”

  “I don’t mind work,” she reassured him with a smile. “Thanks for the help, Jake,” she told the other young man.

  “You’re welcome, ma’am. May I ask you a question?” He looked at her with serious dark eyes, and when Jessie nodded, he asked, “How do you want us to address you? As Mrs. Ames? Miss Jessie? We don’t want to be rude,” he told her.

  “You address Walker as Walker, and I am simply Jessie. Okay? We can be friends.” She smiled at him, then added, “Thank you for being polite enough to ask my preference. It just proves to me that Walker is teaching manners, too. I find that important, don’t I, Billy?” She looked at him and winked.

  “Yes, that is sure the truth. But, Jess, you sure didn’t have manners at the table today,” he teased her. “We didn’t even say grace because you started eating so quick.”

  “I was hungry and rude,” she conceded. “I will do better tonight at supper,” she promised.

  “We all understood, Jessie,” Jake reassured her, and then added, “Walker did, too, or he would have scolded. It’s no fun to be that hungry. Do you feel better now? It took me a few days to get sorted out.” He remembered his arrival at the ranch.

  “My tummy isn’t happy that I ate so fast,” she admitted. “I’m glad Walker had me slow down when he did.”

  “You’ll be okay, Jess.” Billy put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “If you need to take it easy, Walker won’t mind. He understands.”

  “Thanks for the kind words, you two,” Walker said with a smile as he came up behind them with Deputy Williams. “Best you get back to work now, and I’ll see to Jessie. If you need to lie down, Jessie, it’s all right. I don’t want you to feel ill. I can ask Mrs. Gibbons to make you some tea to settle your stomach,” he offered.

  “Mrs. Gibbons works too hard as it is, Walker. I can wait on myself. I’m not ill, either, just a bit uneasy from eating too much too fast,” she conceded. “Thanks for warning me to stop,” she forced herself to say the words he deserved to hear.

  “I’ve been there, like the boys told you.” He smiled. “Deputy Williams wants your word that you will stay here and let him deal with the Simpsons.”

  “Sorry, Deputy, but I can’t give you my word. It would be a lie, and I don’t lie for any reason. I will promise you that I will be most grateful if you find them before I do and you return my locket to me. It is very precious to me, and I will have it back, one way or another. Please excuse me now. I do think I need a moment alone.” She took off running upstairs before she embarrassed herself by being sick in front of Walker and the Deputy.

  Walker showed the man outside, and then hurried upstairs to care for Jessie. He feared her stomach would rebel at the food, and obviously it had. He found her in her room retching into the chamber pot. He knelt beside her and held her hair out of the way. “It’ll be all right, Jessie,” he said, his deep voice soothing and comforting. Once she was past the worst of it, he helped her up, then poured a cup of water from the pitcher on the nightstand and had her rinse her mouth. He then wet a wash cloth so she could wipe her face. “Let’s get you in bed for a bit,” he suggested, sweeping her off her feet and carrying her a few steps to her bed, where he gently laid her on top of the quilt covering the bed.

  “I’m so embarrassed!” Jessie whispered.

  “Don’t be, honey,” Walker said kindly. He decided to wait until she wasn’t so ill to deal with her plans to go after the Simpson Gang and did his best to offer the care she needed. He brought her some dry toast and some of Mrs. Gibbons’ special tea, and within a short time Jessie’s color returned and she felt a lot better. Walker told her to rest, and promised to bring her a tray that evening that would help her stomach get used to solid food again. Jessie did as she was told, thankful that Walker knew exactly what her body needed to feel much better. She hated being ill.

  When Jessie didn’t come downstairs in the morning, Walker went to check on her and found two notes… one for him, and one for Billy. He tried to control his temper, but after reading the short note, he was determined to go after the little brat and switch her backside all the way back home!

  Chapter Four

  It didn’t take Jessie long to realize that she should have waited at least one more day to ride out looking for the Simpson Brothers. Her butt was too sore to sit the saddle for very long, and her stomach was still uneasy. She just didn’t feel good at all, and was tempted to just unsaddle her mount, make camp, and rest, but, the thought of reclaiming her Mama’s locket kept her going.

  An hour or so later she came across a man lying face-down on the ground. She saw the gunshot wound in his back, and carefully dismounted, her gun in her hand as she went to see if he was still breathing. He wasn’t, and his body was cold to the touch, indicating he’d been dead for some time. His boots were gone, as was all the money he’d had in his wallet. There was a picture of him with a woman, probably a wedding photograph, Jessie didn’t have a shovel to bury him, but she couldn’t ride off and just leave him there, either. She gathered stones and covered him as best she could until she could see him buried properly. She also wondered if the Simpson Brothers had anything to do with his death.

  Jessie rode on, staying alert in case of trouble. This time she was armed and wouldn’t be so easily taken advantage of. A bit later she came upon
a camp. There was a covered wagon, with a broken wheel, and it didn’t take her long to spot a woman, who was holding a gun aimed right at her.

  “You just ride on, Mister!” she called out.

  “I’m Jessie Bridges… Ames,” she said, adding the last as an afterthought. “I’m not a threat to you, ma’am.”

  “You’re a woman?” the other lady asked in disbelief.

  “Yes, I am,” Jessie replied with a smile, taking off her hat and letting her hair braid fall down to her waist. “It’s just safer to ride dressed like a boy.”

  “That makes sense to me,” the woman replied, lowering her gun. “Would you like some coffee?” she offered.

  “Yes, please,” Jessie replied. When she got a bit closer to the woman, she said, “Oh nooo!”

  “What?” the woman asked, looking around in fear.

  “I am afraid I have bad news,” Jessie knew she had to speak up right away… and do what she could to soften the blow. “There is no easy way to tell you this. I found your husband’s body about ten miles east of here. He was shot in the back.”

  “Oh my God, noooo!” the woman crumpled and started sobbing. Jessie hurried to her side and offered what comfort she could.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said.

  “How do you know it was my Thomas?” she asked.

  “This wallet was lying beside the body,” Jessie explained, taking it from her jacket and handing it to the other woman. The man had blonde hair and was of a heavy build.”

  “Yes, this is Thomas’ wallet. Oh nooooo! I begged him not to ride off alone, but he said he had to have help to fix the wheel. He was supposed to be back before dark last night,” she sobbed. “I asked him not to leave me here, but he promised he’d return… Now he’s gone!” She cried and cried and finally pulled herself together when she heard crying coming from the back of the wagon. “That’s my little baby, Andy. I don’t remember your name,” she whispered.