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Southern State of Mind

By Miss Raye
Copyright 2000

Chapter Nineteen

Cassie had fallen asleep, her head leaning against the wall. Her teacup cradled in her hand. Before Kid could move, Elias stood and placed her cup on the table nearby.

"I've been wanting to ask you..."

Kid gave a nervous laugh, "Oh no, whenever my father said something like that I was in big trouble."

"It's about Jesse-" he had Kid's attention. "he's a great help to me... he basically takes care of himself. You'd never have any problems with him...."

"Wait! What are you sayin'?"

"Take him with you."

"No!"

"Please-"

"We can't, Louise's father is out there lookin' for us. We're travelin' with two runaway slaves! There is a good chance we won't make it another day...and you want us to take Jesse?"

Elias opened his mouth to protest. A cough unexpectedly racked his body and Elias covered his mouth with his handkerchief. Kid watched with dread as Elias showed him the dark stain across the white cloth. "I'm dyin' Kid."

Kid nodded, he'd seen the same thing with Louise's mother. He hung his head, "I'm sorry Elias, he'll be safe here."

"Kid, I need your help."

"I can't. ... it's hard enough worryin' about Noah, Cassie, and Louise."

Elias watched the young man, guilt and worry agin' him in an instant.

"Fine, just think about it... please."

Kid swiped at tears that had sprung up, "I'll think about it, no promises."

Elias nodded, satisfied for the moment, "That's all I can ask."

Jesse told him everything he knew, somehow feelin' comfortable around this man who'd told him nothin' about himself. Something told him he could trust his inquisitor.

"Rember, not a word!"

Jesse nodded and the man moved away into the night. "Hey Mister-"

"Yeah kid?"

"You could've shot me...that was a pretty dangerous stunt you pulled." Jesse brazenly joked with his departing captor.

"Nope."

Jesse looked at his disappearing figure, "What do you mean?"

"I never pulled the hammer, you should really be more careful!"

Jesse head hung between his shoulders, "I'm not cut out for this."

Mornin' came too fast, and against the doctor's wishes the four friends mounted up.

Kid set Louise up on Katie and swung up behind her. She sagged against his chest, more tired than she would admit. Her color was still too pale for anyone's liking, but even she knew that they had to put as much distance between them and her father as they could. They had already spent too much time in Charleston.

Louise's mount was tied by rope to Katie's saddle and their packs were secured to the extra horse. Elias seemed better this mornin' and hugged Cassie tightly, "Take care of each other."

She smiled up at him, "We will.. you should bring Jesse out west."

Elias grimaced, "That would be nice.... someday."

Noah shook his hand and held the horse so Cassie could mount. "We owe you."

"Just be careful."

Walkin' over to Kid, he set a hand on the saddle horn. "Kid - I wish you'd reconsider -"

Kid looked down at the man who'd taken a dangerous chance and helped them. He couldn't drag Jesse or Elias in any farther. "It's too dangerous." Elias looked as if he'd given up all hope, "When we get our assignments, I'll send word. You can both join us."

The four took to the road and Elias watched them go. Jesse leaned closer, "You think they'll be okay?"

He was lost in his own thoughts, 'We'll join you...if I live that long.'

Douglas Boggs was up early and pacing the front room of the hotel when his men stumbled in.

He set his coffee down and turned to them, "Well?" His harsh tone startled a woman walkin' past.

"We found 'em."

"Where? When? You found them just now?!"

They looked at each other, afraid of his reaction. "When.... well a few hours...ago." They both backed up as Boggs drew his gun as he grabbed Thomas's neck draggin' him closer.

"You were sl-le-eepin'!"

Boggs shoved his gun back into the holster. "I'll deal with you both later.... where the hell are they?"

Colins, the new foreman was the next to speak, "They ain't goin' anywhere. They're hiding at the doctor's house. Seems Louisa is travelin' dressed like a boy."

Boggs smiled as he remembered the look on Joshua's face when he gave up that piece of information. The guilt written across his swollen face as he took his last breath would have hurt.. if Boggs had a soul.

"Let's go. We're this close... I'm not goin' to lose them now."

They marched out the door and swung into their saddles. Colins led the way to the edge of town.

Elias had just started to prepare breakfast when they heard the unmistakable sound of horses thundering down the road. "Hey, you in there!"

He motioned for Jesse to be quiet. He ignored their calls and waved Jesse over. Jesse leaned toward him, listening. "Take your horse. Your bag is packed and strapped to the saddle. Ride after Kid... tell him Louise's father is here."

He turned to walk out the front door, "Elias.... come with me!"

Elias turned back..."You go and do like I told you.... and don't you look back." Jesse stood his ground, "NOW GO!!"

Jesse ran through the house, but before he could get to the back door... it creaked open. He ducked into the back room and all but closed the door. He watched from the crack as a dirty man entered, his gun drawn.

His heart pounding, Jesse looked around. The man stayed in the hallway, 'I'll never get out that way' he turned and saw the window. Jesse creeped up to the window sill and slid the window open. One leg and then the other swung over the sill. He lowered himself down to the ground. Peekin' around the corner... the way was clear and he ran for his horse.

He took a minute, wondering why Elias had put his things on the horse. He heard a shot from the house and ran to the side window. A man in a fancy coat stood to the side, his right hand gripped his other arm and a dark red stain spread across the grey wool. Two men held Elias and the third hefted Elias's pistol.

"Where are they old man?"

"Who?"

The third man struck Elias across the face with the pistol. Jesse could hear the crack of metal against bone.

The fancy man walked closer his arm tied with a kerchief. "Now now Colins, don't bust his jaw.... he won't be able to tell us what we want to know."

Elias turned to face him, "I'll never tell you, so don't ....waste your breath."

"Come on old man! Don't make this any harder than it has to be... Now, where is my daughter?"

Elias was coughing again... blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Jesse felt hot tears streaming down his face... he didn't brush them away. He wanted to help.. but he couldn't save him. Not without a gun.

"Well!"

Jesse looked up through his tears and saw a smile creep across Elias's face. "Far away from y-"

Boggs slid his pistol free and shot the doctor between the eyes, a hard sadistic grin smeared across his face.

Jesse howled in silence as the doctor slumped to the ground. He turned away in horror... 'get to the horse' his mind screamed. Later, he'd marvel at how he managed to get back to his horse on legs that felt like melted butter. He scrambled up into the saddle and kicked the horse into a desperate gallop.

Once clear of the town he leaned forward and circled the horse's neck with his arms. He cried his tears as the horse carried him on. He had to find the others... tell them what happened.. and make that man pay!

To be continued...

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