FANFIC
LARAMIE
STARRING JESS HARPER
DEAD ON ARRIVAL
Written by Tony G
CHAPTER 4
Clancy and his posse kicked up powerful amount of dust as they raced on behind Jess and Lonnie. They didn't stop, they just kept going like men possessed. They hadn't stopped since Clancy made a detour to Burnet's ranch to pick up more guns. But then Clancy was a man driven by a lust for revenge, no snot nosed kid was going to get away with killing his brother. Self defence was no argument as far as he was concerned, the boy was going to pay. And no saddle tramp gunslinger was going to get away with taking his horse and making him look a fool in front of his men. So Clancy just kept on going, and he would keep on going until he caught them, nothing would get in his way.
"Hold up Victor" yelled one of the posse members. But Clancy didn't hear. "Victor" the man yelled again and Clancy reined up his horse.
"What is it Hatch" asked Clancy irritably.
"We gotta rest Victor. We gonna kill the horses we carry on like this. Not to mention ourselves."
"No we keep on going"
"Not with us Victor, this makes no sense. Now come on man, see sense. We'll catch em but we need rest."
Clancy was shocked that Hatch would argue with him, and deep down he knew Hatch was right. They all needed rest. He looked at Hatch.
"Alright Hatch. One hour for coffee and food. Then we move."
Jess and Lonnie were rested and back in the saddle. Lonnie's wrists hurt from the rope that tied them.
"How about cuttin me loose Jess. I aint goin nowhere."
Jess thought about it for a moment.
"I want your word"
"You got it Jess"
Jess took out a small pocket knife and cut through Lonnie's bonds, then he fixed Lonnie with a hard stare.
"I'm trustin you boy, you try anything funny and we go to war."
Lonnie looked hurt at the suggestion.
"I gave you my word didn't I Jess. I never break my word."
After another few hours of trouble free riding Jess decided to call it a day. He was relieved to have got this far without Clancy turning up again, but he could feel he had not seen the last of Victor Clancy and part of him was just waiting for the inevitable showdown to arrive.
He and Lonnie made camp and after eating Jess turned to Lonnie.
"I gotta tie you up again."
"I knew you wouldn't trust me. I saved your life back there. I could have just let you be trampled by your horse then I would have been free. But I didn't, I stayed, I helped you."
Jess felt guilty at what he was about to do but the way he saw it he had no choice.
" You are my prisoner Lonnie. I have to do this so turn round."
"Go ahead Harper. Play lawman. Feel big do you?"
"Get some sleep Lonnie. I'll untie you in the morning."
Both men had a good sleep although Jess had planned to stay awake longer than he did just to stand guard. He was scared that Clancy would turn up while he slept, but sleep won in the end!
After breakfast they were back on the trail. Lonnie was grateful to Jess for untying his hands.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you last night Jess."
"What was that?"
"The thing about playing lawman. You only did what you had to do, I know that."
"What you going to do when you get outta this mess. You got any plans?"
"Oh I don't know." said Lonnie thoughtfully "I sure don't intend to end up back in jail, that's for sure" he laughed. "People always said I'd amount to nothin, but I aim to prove them wrong. I'd like to go home one day and have folks be proud to know me." He laughed again. "You know Jess I'd just like to think that maybe one day somebody could think I was a man to ride with. Yeah maybe one day. Is that too much to ask for in life?"
"No Lonnie, that's a fine hope. You go after it and you'll do it. But first we gotta sort out this mess that you got yourself into !"
They had been riding for about three hours and they only had to get through the rest of this day and they would be in Laramie. Jess couldn't wait. He kept thinking about how Slim had been right about him not keeping out of trouble. Then Slim usually was right. It was funny how only four years ago Jess had been a drifter with no aim other than to stay alive. Then he met Slim, Andy and Jonesy. Andy had moved away to get a good education and old Jonesy had died. But Slim was still there. Slim was the rock in his life, the influence that kept him steady, his best friend and the only man he ever really trusted. He missed Daisy. She was like a mother to him. And there was Mike, the little boy whose life Slim and Jess had saved. He would be glad to get home, his home.
Jess was thinking about these things when the first shot rang out. Lonnie's horse fell as it was hit with the bullet.
Jess threw himself out of his saddle and rolled on the ground. He was up in a flash and ran to where Lonnie lay.
"You alright?"
Lonnie nodded, but he looked dazed. Jess grabbed his arm, dragged him up and ran for cover behind a nearby rock. As he pulled out his gun the horror of the situation suddenly dawned on him.
Clancy and the posse had caught up with them !