by Joannie Kay
“Snake wouldn’t let us do anything except go to school and back home. One minute late, and he would take something we loved and smash it. One day my friend TJ came home with me, and Snake said I was late, and he blamed TJ and took out his knife and pricked him with it, and said if he ever came by again, he’d cut him into pieces. TJ was scared and wet his pants. Snake threatened to kill his Ma if he told what happened.”
“Good God!” Walker was enraged.
“Snake was a real bastard. I was older, and I demanded to work in the bank. Snake thought it a good idea because he didn’t have to pay me. I kept an eye on him, and on our money. When one man couldn’t pay a loan on time, Snake cut off one of his fingers. There was a gun kept in the bank in case of a holdup. I got it and turned it on Snake and told him I’d kill him if he ever did that again. Then I took some money from the till, went to the gunsmith and bought a gun and holster and started wearing it every day. When Snake could get Billy alone, he would take it out on him. He stopped just short of cutting him because he knew I would kill him like the dog he was. Billy kept breaking up Snake’s things when he was gone. Snake would be enraged when he discovered something else ruined, and Billy kept telling him that since he ruined everything we owned it was only fair. Snake hated us both, but Billy was vulnerable. I taught him to use a gun, but the law took away every one I gave him for protection. That’s why Billy ran away. It was only a matter of time before Snake went into a rage and hurt him real bad.”
“Yeah. Even then I was scared for Jessie, but Snake was scared of her. He knew she’d kill him if he got close to her. If he touched me, Jessie would have killed him sure and certain, and I didn’t want her in trouble for that, so I ran.”
“One day Snake cut the wrong man, and found out he wasn’t as good with a knife as he thought. I turned twenty-one the next week, and took control of the bank and all of our money.”
“You own another bank?” Tanner was stunned.
“Actually, we own several banks,” Jessie answered with a smile, “But I would prefer it if you would keep that in the family. Money scares people, and we would rather be treated like everyone else. It’s what our folks believed, and we were raised to do our share.”
Walker found it hard to believe that his wife and Billy were so wealthy, and was amazed that neither of them were spoiled and used to being waited on. Billy took to ranching like it was second nature, and his lovely wife saw nothing wrong with working, either. He was impressed.
Later that night Jessie spotted Walker looking at her speculatively and she wondered what was on his mind. Lord knows she didn’t want money coming between them. She was sitting at her vanity, brushing out her long hair, and the look in her husband’s dark eyes was disconcerting. “What is on your mind, Walker?” she asked, unaware that the worried little look she leveled on him only made her more beautiful in his eyes.
“I am thinking we have a small matter to settle between us,” he said, making sure to keep a straight face. “Come here,” he directed.
“But, Walker… What did I do?” Jessie racked her brain for a reason he could be upset, and couldn’t come up with one single thing… unless it was the money? “Are you upset because I didn’t tell you sooner about the money?” she asked.
“The money doesn’t matter between us, Jessie,” he stated truthfully. “Now come here,” he said again, a bit more impatiently. He was pleased when Jessie came to face him. He promptly pulled her down over his left thigh and the bed, and when she wiggled and tried to get free, he said, “Now settle down, Mrs. Ames. I owe you a reward for being such a good girl, remember?”
“But, Walllll-kerrr!” she protested when he slid her gown up and over her buttocks, but instead of his hand coming down in a painful slap, Walker’s touch was gentle. “Walker?” She was confused.
“You said you deserved a reward for being a good girl, didn’t you?” he teased, his deep voice low and full of passion, even as his hand gently spanked her flesh and then rubbed away the sting.
“Yeeessss,” she wailed, waiting for him to get serious, but he didn’t. The spanks were nothing like the kind she’d come to expect when lying in this position. These were just a bit stingy, and the caresses before and after were making her feel all tingly, and turning her mind towards all sorts of other things.
“Let’s see if you are enjoying your reward.” Walker spoke softly as his fingers delved deeper and slid within her pulsing warmth. “Yes, I think you are enjoying this,” he whispered, chuckling knowingly.
Jessie finally gave herself over to the pleasure she felt, and tried not to blush too much when Walker teased her a bit afterwards. She would find a way to pay him back when he least expected it, she promised herself, especially after finding it difficult to sit the next morning. When she looked at Walker in surprise, he chuckled and winked and she didn’t dare look at him the rest of the meal for fear someone would realize what had happened!
* * *
“What are you two doing in town?” Jessie smiled when Billy and Sam came into the bank one afternoon a couple weeks later.
“Walker needs some nails, and he wanted to make sure you’re doing all right since Angie wasn’t feeling good and stayed home today,” Billy answered.
“I’m doing just fine. Why don’t you…” she was cut off as the door to the bank was thrust opened and three men wearing masks came inside, their guns pointed.
“This is a robbery. Open the safe and put all the money in these bags,” one of the men ordered.
“No,” Jessie simply refused.
“Look, lady, you do it or this kid is dead.” He grabbed Billy and put a gun to his head.
“Let him go, Pete. He ain’t done nothing to you,” Sam bellowed.
“Sam! What the hell are you doing here?” the man shoved Billy hard against the wall, hitting his head. He fell to the floor unconscious, and when Jessie tried to run to him, another of the robbers point a gun at her.
“Fill these bags, or I’ll shoot.” It was a woman’s voice and Jessie saw Sam stiffen.
Jessie really had no choice but to do as they said. Sam and Billy’s lives were at stake. She filled the two bags full of cash and the third man grabbed the bags. “You’re coming with us, bitch,” the first man said, the one Sam called ‘Pete’.
“Leave her here, Pete. She won’t tell nobody.”
“Kid, you told her who we are. I got no choice but take her or kill her.”
“Don’t fight him, Jessie,” Sam took her hand and whispered.
Chapter Twelve
“Walker! Walker!” Billy ran through the house and straight into Walker’s study. “Walker! They got Jessie… and Sam, too! Hurry, we’ve got to go after them!”
“Billy, calm down and tell me what happened,” Walker got to his feet and rounded the desk, putting his hands on Billy’s shoulders and looking down at him.
“The bank was robbed. I was knocked unconscious, and came to just in time to see that Jessie and Sam were riding out of town with the three bank robbers. We’ve got to go after them.”
“Where’s Tanner?” Walker asked, trying to stay calm.
“He had to ride out to Westfall’s Ranch. Rustlers,” Billy said, still gasping to catch his breath. “Give me a gun, Walker. They got Jess, and I have to help her. Sam called one of them Pete; it’s his brother. They’ll kill Jessie because she knows who they are!”
Walker didn’t argue. He handed Billy a rifle, and ammunition, knowing full well it was safer to keep the boy with him than have him riding on his own, which he would do the moment Walker was out of sight. “Which way did they go, son?” he asked quietly as they marched to the kitchen to tell Mrs. Gibbons where they were going. She was upset and started crying. Walker hugged her and told her to keep Denver and Lee close to the house and barn, and she promised she would.
Walker and Billy rode out, praying they would be in time to save Jessie.
* * *
Jessie was coldly furious. She was worried sick about Bill
y, and with Tanner out of town, she didn’t know how long it would be before Walker was told about what happened. He would come for her; she didn’t doubt that for one moment. But what about Billy? How badly was he hurt?
They rode hard for hours and Jessie was furious that she hadn’t had a chance to escape. Sam was quiet, too quiet. She could see that he was terrified, and Jessie knew that she was going to have to get him away from Pete. But how? They were traveling too fast right now, and at least as long as they were moving, she and Sam were safe. The thieves had long since pulled down their kerchiefs and were making no attempt to hide their identity, which meant they planned to kill her. And the red-headed woman called Iris hated Sam; he wasn’t safe, either.
When they finally stopped it was to give the horses a much needed break, and to eat something. Jessie was shoved down on the ground by a tree and her hands tied. “Don’t get any ideas about running, girl, or you’ll end up dead.”
“Why don’t you just shoot her now?” the other woman spoke up from her place beside the fire.
“Shut up, Iris. No one asked you,” Pete growled. “Sam, why in hell did you run away?” he demanded, looking at the boy. Sam didn’t answer.
“He’s just lazy and shiftless!” the woman claimed. “He wouldn’t obey me.”
“Are you the bitch who beat him so severely he nearly died?” Jessie asked sharply, drawing her attention away from Sam. The poor kid was shaking in terror!
“What?” Pete looked at Jessie. “What is this? Iris wouldn’t beat Sam!”
“Oh yeah? Look at his back if you don’t believe me!” Jessie dared him.
The woman pulled out a knife and came for Jessie, hatred in her dark eyes. “You bitch! We should have killed you back there! I knew you’d be trouble for us!”
Jessie was prepared to kick the knife from her hands, but, to her shock, there was a shot fired and Iris fell dead to the ground. Jessie’s startled green eyes went first to Pete, and he looked as shocked as she felt. Sam had taken his brother’s gun and he was the one who fired at Iris!
“Oh Sam!” Jessie cried out, shaken that he would do such a thing to protect her.
“I owed you, Jessie. You saved me from the Apache.” He turned to Pete. “You never knew how she was. She beat me every day when you were gone.” He undid the buttons on his shirt and took it off. “See?” he demanded. “I’ll never be sorry I killed her and I hope she’s in hell!” He moved away when Pete tried to hug him. “It’s too late, Pete. I want you and Syd to ride out and leave me and Jessie here. I’ll get her home safe, I owe her that and I ain’t gonna let you hurt her none.”
“Kid, you can’t stop me.”
“I can if I have to, Pete. Go on and ride out while you can. You don’t know Walker. He’ll stake you out and kill you slow if you touch Jessie.”
“Who the hell is Walker? He’s not the Sheriff. That Evanston fellow made sure he was out of town.”
“Evanston? He’s the one who put you up to this?” Jessie asked in disbelief.
“He hates your guts, lady. Wants you handled….” His black eyes were glittering, leaving no doubt in her mind that he was referring to raping her.
“And he picked you?” she snorted derisively. “You’d better do as Sam said. Now. While you’re still breathing.”
“Shut up.” Syd came to stand above her. “Do you want me to kill her, Pete?” he asked with an evil grin Jessie knew was meant to intimidate and frighten her. She glared at the man, refusing to show any hint of fear.
Sam raised the gun again to fire at Syd, but this time Pete was ready and the shot went wild when he knocked the gun from Sam’s hand. “We’ve got to get out of here, Syd. Tie her feet together so she can’t walk nowhere. The only reason you ain’t dead, lady, is because of Sam. I don’t want him to hate me. Kid, you’re coming with me.”
“No. I’m staying with Jessie,” he insisted.
“You’ll do as I say, Sam, or I’ll put a bullet in her and leave her here to die slow.”
Sam gave Jessie a pleading look, and she nodded at him. “Go on, Sam. I will be fine.”
He nodded in silent understanding. He knew Jessie and he knew Walker. They would come for him.
Once they were gone, Jessie’s relief was short-lived. She was in one heck of a predicament. Iris’ body was bound to draw wild animals, and she was unable to defend herself. She tried to wriggle her hands free of the ropes binding her, but the ropes were tight as could be.
And then she heard the coyotes moving in closer. She spotted three of them, and knew there were probably a few more still too far away for her to see in the moonlight. Just when she was sure she was going to die, the coyotes were frightened away… by several Apache braves who were staring at her and Iris’ body and trying to figure out what happened and who fired the gunshots that drew their attention.
* * *
“That was another shot! Jessie!” Billy cried out, positive his sister was dead by now. He kicked his mount to a faster pace and Walker did the same, his heart pounding in fear as he raced toward the sound.
Jessie heard the pounding of hooves, and reached out to the Indian who cut the ropes binding her hands and feet. “It is my husband,” she said with certainty. The Apache nodded, and said something to the other men with him.
Billy was shocked to see the Apache, but Walker laid a restraining hand on his arm before the teenager could raise his rifle. Walker recognized the brave as the one from the barn, the man he’d permitted to leave with his life instead of killing him.
“Walker!” Jessie said happily, running to him. He quickly dismounted and held her close, only to get shoved aside a few seconds later when Billy wanted to hold her, too.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Walker asked.
“Yes. Thanks to Eagle Flying. He and the others came just in time to keep a bunch of coyotes from making a meal of me… Billy, honey, are you all right? Your head?” She reached up and tenderly examined him for bumps and bruises. He grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Ouch! I’ve got a headache and can’t see straight, but I’m fine. I’m sorry I let them take you and Sam, Jessie,” he said guiltily. “I didn’t come to until it was too late to stop them.”
“You couldn’t have stopped them, honey,” she insisted. “Now we have to get Sam. He didn’t want to go with them… and he’s the one who shot Iris,” she whispered sadly. “He kept her from killing me. She’s the one who abused him.”
“Poor kid.” Walker shook his head, and then stepped forward to thank Eagle Flying for his help. The brave responded with dignity, and then the Apache left them alone, having repaid his debt to Walker.
It was at least an hour before they were able to go after Sam; they buried Iris, and Walker insisted on doctoring Jessie’s wrists where they were rubbed raw. Several more minutes were wasted when Walker tried to talk Jessie and Billy into heading back to the ranch and letting him go on alone to get Sam. Both siblings flat out refused and Walker finally gave in even though he thought both of them could do with a good tanning and said so.
Billy lifted Jessie onto his mount and then mounted behind her. He was feeling very protective, and Walker knew the young man needed to feel as though he was taking care of his sister. Besides, Walker was heavier than both of them put together and it made sense for them to double up.
It didn’t take as long to catch up to Pete, Syd, and Sam as they thought it would. Apparently Pete didn’t believe Sam’s warning that Walker would come, or that Jessie would still be alive to point out in which direction they rode. They even lit a campfire, daring the Apache to spot them. Jessie thought Pete stupid or arrogant, but decided it was a mixture of the two. There wasn’t much of a fight. Sam was the only one awake, and he told Walker that he was just waiting to make sure the other two were sound out of it before he took off for home.
“You didn’t shout out and warn us, kid? You saw them coming and you didn’t say nothing?” Pete was furious.
“I told you Walker would
come,” Sam commented. He felt safe with Jessie’s arm around him holding him close to her side.
“I’ll always come, Sam.” Walker smiled, his voice deep.
“Jessie told us you saved her life; thanks,” Billy said. “You’re our family now, Sam.”
“He ain’t your family,” Pete sputtered angrily.
“Yes he is,” three voices said firmly.
“Yes, I am.” Sam grinned happily. “Let’s go home!”
On the way back to town to lock up their prisoners, they met Sheriff Tanner Graves. The relief on his face was genuine when he spotted them. “I am so damn sorry, Walker! I wasn’t there when Jessie needed me most.” He felt guilty as could be. “Are you all right, Jessie?” he demanded hoarsely, searching her face for any sign that she’d been harmed in any way.
“Fine and dandy, thanks to Sam,” she said, praising the boy. “And, Tanner, you were tricked out of town so you wouldn’t be there. This was all planned out by John Evanston.”
“What?” Tanner was shocked.
“It’s true, Tanner. Evanston hired these men to rob the bank and kill Jessie.”
“Damn him to hell!”
“I want to deal with this myself,” Walker said quietly.
“Oh no, Evanston is mine,” Jessie argued.
“No, he took Jessie, and I want to smash his head in,” Billy declared angrily.
