Walker's Rules

by Joannie Kay

  “I’m Jessie. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Angie. Thank you for being here with me, Jessie. I just don’t know what to do now,” she tearfully confessed, even as her son’s wails grew louder.

  “I won’t let anything happen to you,” Jessie promised, watching as the woman went to get Andy from the wagon. He was a precious little boy, and Jessie was determined to help Angie. She did some hunting and put a rabbit over the fire to roast. And, she helped herself to coffee while Angie sat on the ground and nursed her baby, rocking him back and forth while trying hard not to cry.

  “I just don’t know what to do now, Jessie,” Angie finally spoke. “I have to take care of Andy, but I can’t farm by myself. I don’t really want to live in the country, either. I’m afraid of Indians. Thomas had all our money in his wallet. I have a piece or two of jewelry I can sell to keep Andy fed… but when that is gone, I don’t know what I’ll do. My folks are all gone, and Thomas’ folks hate me. They wanted him to stay in Pennsylvania, and blamed me for us leaving, even though it was all Thomas’ idea. In their eyes it will be my fault that he is dead,” she whispered.

  “It isn’t your fault, Angie, and I promise that you and your little boy will be fine. You’ll figure out what you want to do, and I’ll help you get started.”

  “You don’t even know me!” Angie said in surprise.

  “That doesn’t matter. You need kindness right now, and I want to help you.”

  “I’m so thankful you came along, and I’m grateful to you for looking out for Thomas. I want to see him buried proper, and I do have a shovel,” she said tearfully.

  “We’ll see to it, Angie. Right now you should try and get some rest. You’re all tuckered out from crying.”

  “I’ll put the baby down, but I’m not ready to lie down just yet.” She tried to smile. “I really loved Thomas, and he loved me, too. He was good to me, and the thought of going on without him hurts so much. If I didn’t have Andy to look after, I’m not so sure I could face this,” she whispered, and then stepped up on the steps to go into the lopsided wagon.

  Jessie felt the need for some privacy, and she walked off into the trees to find a place to relieve her bladder. She was just finished righting her clothing and strapping her gun belt back on over her slender hips when she heard a scream. She cautioned herself not to do anything rash, and she approached the camp quietly.

  * * *

  Walker made no attempt to hide his anger from Billy when he handed him the note from his sister. “Jessie rode out during the night, son, and if she tells you which direction she went in your note, I expect you to be honest with me. I don’t like the idea of her out there alone looking for the Simpson Brothers. They’ll hurt her if they get their hands on her,” he added when Billy looked at him in obvious concern.

  “You don’t know Jessie, Walker. She can take care of herself just fine. Those brothers are the ones in big trouble.” Walker just frowned and watched as Billy opened his letter. Billy wasn’t stupid; he read it out loud:

  “Dear Billy, I went to get Mama’s locket back. You mind your p’s and q’s and try to make Walker understand that I’m not helpless. All in all, I am glad you ended up with Walker, Billy. He is a good, decent man, and it pleases me to know you are safe with him. I’ll be back when I find those jerks and get my locket back, and then I have a couple of ideas to discuss with you. Love, Jess”.

  “I was hoping she would tell you which way she was headed.” Walker frowned again.

  “Simple. She’ll head toward where the stagecoach was robbed, and start looking from there,” Billy stated with certainty.

  “She didn’t even take a gun with her,” Walker muttered.

  “She didn’t take your guns, but she’s got her own,” Billy corrected him. “Walker, Jessie might be little and look helpless, but she’s dangerous. She’s armed, and she shoots better than anyone else I know. Those guys made a big mistake in takin’ Ma’s locket from Jessie, and then they threatened her… She won’t sit still for that.”

  “She won’t sit period when I get my hands on her,” Walker promised.

  “She’s not a boy you can tan, Walker.”

  “No, she’s not a boy, but I’m not going to let her get herself killed over a locket,” the big man stated in his deep voice.

  “You’re going after her?” Billy looked at him.

  “I am.”

  “Better let me come, too,” Billy said matter-of-factly.

  “You don’t need to protect Jessie from me, son,” Walker said quietly.

  “It’s not Jessie I’m worried about, Walker. It’s you!”

  * * *

  “I can’t believe you let your wife ride out after those three, Ames!” Deputy Williams exclaimed when Walker filled him in on ‘why’ he was out searching. “I told her we would find those three.”

  “Jessie doesn’t listen well, obviously.”

  “Obviously not, but I can tell you for a fact that if she was my wife, I’d cut a switch and wear it out on her.”

  “You might try it, Deputy, but you probably would wish you didn’t,” Billy stated with a scowl for the man.

  “Billy…” Walker warned.

  “He don’t even know Jessie,” Billy muttered angrily.

  “The Simpsons are working in this area, and we’d best find your wife before they do,” the Deputy stated.

  * * *

  “Get out of here and leave me alone!” Angie told the three men as she backed away from them. Her rifle was in the wagon, and she had no idea where Jessie was at. The three were evil and she didn’t have to ask what they wanted. It was obvious from the look in their eyes.

  “Don’t be so uppity, girl. We just want us some loving,” one of the men declared with a laugh.

  “Your husband ain’t comin’ back, if that’s what’s bothering you, girl. He’s laying dead about ten or twelve miles from here. We helped ourselves to his money, and since he ain’t got no use for you now, we might as well have us some fun.”

  “You are the ones who killed Thomas?” Angie screamed at them. “Damn you! Damn you all to hell!”

  “Now, that ain’t no way to talk to us, girl. We might have to teach you some manners if you aren’t careful!” The third man reached for Angie, only to scream in pain and grab at his crotch a moment later. Before his brothers could react, they too were in pain and doubled over in pain.

  “I want my Mama’s locket and I want it now!” Jessie demanded, stepping from behind the trees.

  “You! You cold-hearted bitch! You tried to castrate me!”

  “No, I didn’t, not yet. Now where is my locket?” Jessie demanded.

  “Girl, you’re gonna pay for this!” one of the men threatened as he went for his gun, only to scream when she shot his hand. “Damn, I’m hurt! I’m hurt!”

  “You others drop your guns. NOW!” she ordered.

  “They killed Thomas, Jessie!” Angie accused.

  “I heard them admit it, Angie. We’ll see them hang for it. They also killed a stage coach driver in cold blood, and they robbed me and tried to rape me. They are going to hang… if I let them live that long. I want my locket and I want it right now or I’m going to start shooting off vital pieces that hang between your legs!” she promised.

  * * *

  “Those shots are coming from that direction!” Walker called out and urged his stallion to a gallop, anxious to get to Jessie. When he road up to the disabled covered wagon he was shocked to see three men lying on the ground, groaning and moaning in pain.

  Jessie gave him an assessing look, and then looked at Billy and grinned. “I got my locket back!”

  “Figured you would,” Billy nodded. “Walker was worried about you, Jess.”

  “So I see.”

  She walked over to the big man and said in a low voice, “I’m glad you’re here, Walker. These three killed this woman’s husband and she needs our help. I’m not strong enough to fix the wheel, and I couldn’t leave her here alone. I figur
ed those three shot Thomas, and they admitted it. They were going to rape Angie, and I stopped them. They are the same ones who killed the stage driver and tried to rape me.”

  “Ma’am, you shouldn’t be out here!” Deputy Williams scolded. “You could have been hurt.”

  “Nonsense. I stopped them from hurting Angie, and they killed her husband. I piled rocks on top of his body until we can give him a proper burial. I expect you to see to it these three are hanged, Deputy. I will testify that they murdered the stage driver, and I heard them tell Angie they killed her husband. Do your job.”

  “I was trying to do my job, Mrs. Ames!” he blustered.

  “Don’t you take a tone with Jessie, sir. She saved me and these three killed my Thomas and stole all the money he had in his wallet! Jessie got it back for me,” she said with spirit.

  “Lawman, you just keep that crazy redhead away from us. She’s mean clear clean through.”

  “I warned you I’d come after you and get my locket back. You should have believed me,” Jessie said without one smidgeon of pity. She reached out and took Walker’s hand, much to his surprise, and tugged him after her where the others couldn’t hear. “Walker, I am ill and I need to lie down. I’ve been trying to keep going for Angie’s sake. Will you see to her and little baby Andy?” she asked, her eyes pleading. “I really am glad you came,” she surprised him even more when she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “It’s nice of you to worry about me when you really don’t know me at all. You are a very nice man.”

  She didn’t give Walker a chance to tell her he was planning to cut a switch and wear it out on her backside, but instead, grabbed her blankets and curled up on the ground under a tree. She was vaguely aware of Billy coming over to take up a post beside her, but she felt safe and went to sleep.

  Walker assured the Deputy that he would take care of Angie and her baby and get her to safety once he fixed the wagon. Deputy Williams took his word for it and loaded the three outlaws onto their horses, despite their protests and moans of pain. “I reckon you three deserve to suffer some after the way you’ve treated women the last few years,” he told them without the slightest bit of sympathy for their pain. “All Mrs. Ames did was scratch your upper legs. If she’s a good enough shot to do that, then you can bet your butt she wasn’t trying to castrate you or she would have done it!” He looked at Walker and then added, “You’d better take that little wildcat in hand, Ames. If my wife acted like that, I’d have to stripe her good!”

  “Hopefully your wife won’t do such a thing,” Walker said with a straight face.

  “Since I don’t have one, I reckon she won’t!” Williams winked, and then he and his posse took the Simpson brothers back to stand trial for murder, rape, and robbery.

  Angie looked at Walker a bit uneasily. “I hope you aren’t mad at Jessie, Mr. Ames. She saved me today.”

  “I’m very happy you’re safe, ma’am,” Walker said politely. “Is there anything I can do to help you out?”

  “You might want to get another rabbit to sit on the spit. Jessie put that one on, but it won’t be big enough to feed you and the young man, too,” she stated the obvious.

  “I can do that,” Walker said with an easy smile. “I’ll fix your wagon, too, and in the morning, we’ll head home to my place. You can stay with us until the trial is done and you decide what you want to do.”

  “Jessie already offered me help, and it’s nice to know you feel the same.” Angie’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m not used to having such nice people around me, and I truly believe God sent you to help me. Thank you so much.”

  “Well, I don’t know if God told Jessie to do something she was told not to do, but I am glad she was able to help you in your time of need.”

  “I want to bury Thomas properly, Mr. Ames,” she said. “Would you help me with that, too? Jessie said she would, but I think she’s not feeling well. I was going to suggest she lie down, and then those three men came…”

  “She’ll be fine, ma’am, and right now I think you should try and get some rest. You’ve had a lot to deal with.”

  “I’ll go and lie down with my Andy. Thank you again, Mr. Ames. Please, don’t be too hard on Jessie. Her heart is good.”

  “I know her heart is good,” Walker agreed. “I just want to keep her safe, too.”

  “Thomas felt the same about me. He would have liked and respected you,” she said, and then disappeared inside the wagon.

  Walker walked over to Billy and said, “I’m going to go and get us a couple more rabbits to put on the fire. Will you keep an eye on things here?”

  “Sure thing. Is the lady resting now?” Billy asked.

  “Yes. She’s hanging on by a thread right now, son. Just like Miss Jessie. Let her sleep, okay? I’ll be back in a few minutes. Do you know how to use your sister’s rifle?” he asked calmly.

  Billy grinned, “I’m nearly as good as Jessie, Walker. Don’t worry; she’s safe with me.”

  “We’re far enough out that Indians could be a problem,” Walker explained.

  “I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open,” Billy nodded.

  Walker was beginning to realize just how little he knew about the youngster. He acted years beyond his age, and he believed his story about not wanting to put his sister in danger from Snake to ask her for money. He knew what hunger could do to a person, and truthfully, Billy hadn’t given him a bit of trouble in the six months he’d been on the ranch. “Good enough, Billy,” he said, and then went hunting. It didn’t take him long to bag two more rabbits, and he accepted Billy’s offer to help with skinning them and putting them over the fire. It was another thing he didn’t know about the young man, that he was skilled in that manner, too.

  Jessie finally woke up to the smell of roasted rabbit, and without a word, she took some canned beans from her saddle bag and heated them up, too. Angie came out of the wagon and said something to Jessie, and Jessie nodded and they walked off together. The baby started crying and Walker got up and went into the wagon to check on him. He needed changed, and Walker did that, and then brought the little fellow outside, putting him on his shoulder and patting his little bottom with his hand and bouncing him a bit. When the two women returned a few minutes later, Jessie smiled at the sight of Walker bouncing little Andy.

  “He woke up, ma’am, and was crying. I changed him,” Walker said when Angie came to take Andy from him.

  “Thank you for caring for him, Mr. Ames,” she whispered. “I’ll tend him now; he’s hungry.” She disappeared into the wagon again and Jessie went to check on their food.

  “This is ready,” she announced. “Thanks for putting on more rabbit.” She smiled at Walker. “The one I got wouldn’t have gone very far…”

  “Have you eaten today, Jessie?” he asked.

  “Not much,” she confessed. “I’ll go slow tonight, I promise.”

  “You never should have ridden out alone, young lady. You weren’t well.”

  “You are right,” Jessie admitted. “But, I felt compelled, and I can’t be sorry under the circumstances.”

  “You disobeyed me,” Walker said, watching her chew her rabbit.

  “I’m not the obedient type.” She shrugged. “Billy, don’t be afraid to eat. There is plenty here, I promise. I even have more beans in my saddlebag, so eat what you want, honey.”

  “It’s been a while since we had campfire food, sis.”

  “We’ll have to do it more often, Billy,” she agreed with a big smile, and then fixed another plate and took it to Angie. “You need to eat, Angie,” she told her. “Your baby needs to eat through you. So, even if you don’t feel like it, eat.”

  Angie nodded, and Jessie left her alone. Jessie finished her own meal and wondered how long it would be before Walker dragged her off to yell at her, or even worse, to spank her yet again! When she rode out while it was still dark, she didn’t think he would dare spank her for doing as she pleased, but she’d read the expression in his dark eyes when they
first arrived. He was clearly unhappy… and her sore butt was going to pay the price… unless she could talk him out of acting like the outraged husband.

  “Will you keep an eye on Angie and the baby while Jessie and I have a talk, Billie?” Walker asked the youngster.

  “Sure,” Billy replied. “Jessie, Walker is a good guy; he means well. Why don’t you leave your gun here?” he asked pointedly.

  “I don’t think so,” Jessie answered. If wearing her gun made Walker reconsider what he was planning, then she would wear it day and night if it offered her protection from his hand.

  Walker took her hand and led her away from the camp. “Your gun doesn’t frighten me, Jessie. I’ll just take it from you if I need to.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t try that, Walker.”

  “You’ve earned a spanking, Jessie. I warned you that I wouldn’t permit you to risk your life, and you ignored everything I said and went looking for the Simpsons.”

  “I got Mama’s locket back, too,” she announced, reaching up to touch the precious piece of jewelry. “I don’t want a spanking, but if that is the price for getting back my locket, then so be it. I would never forgive myself if I hadn’t done something to get it back.

  “Deputy Williams promised he would get back your locket, Jessie,” Walker said. “You didn’t need to do something so dangerous. What if those men got their hands on you instead of the other way around? Do you know how lucky you were?”

  “Oh, Walker, please don’t talk to me like I’m a child. I was pretty darn sure they were in the area. I was alert all the time and ready for trouble. I’m not naïve. I was ready for them, and hoping they would show up. I’m only sorry that Angie was frightened.”

  “Then you need a good reason to be sorry,” Walker said firmly.

  “Not here, Walker. I’m still sore from before, and you must remember that I’m not a kid. I’m a grown woman and I am entitled to do as I please.”