being Perkins, those jailers gave me my modesty in that cell,” she said. “Once they found out I was no boy. And at the hanging, the posse ran off quick. Likely couldn’t stomach stringing up a skinny girl. So I had just enough time. The world was already turning black when I cut free.”
She gazed up at the clouds again, and a shudder traveled from her head down her back. A normal woman would have inspired him to gather her close, to warm her and to comfort her. To halt those jitters. But not an outlaw woman. Who if she thought herself skinny was dead wrong. She filled out all the right places for a gal. His cock twitched, and he tightened his knees.
“Well, what do you plan now?” Redd asked, hating that her wits and her bravery and her strength at getting loose from a noose was all starting to inspire him.
Jessy Belle looked him full on, eyes dripping tears. “Redd, truth to tell, it was me alerted that rancher. I have mended my ways. It was dark. He couldn’t mean to shoot my horse. As for....as for me getting left behind, well. It’s always been Ahab’s creed. Run for your life and don’t look back. No matter who or what.”
“Not even his sister?” Redd’s grunt got Snapper whickering in return. His arms folded across his chest. “And you won’t identify him to the law?”
Her white cheeks grew red like face paint. “We had the same mama.” The simple words once again threatened to touch his heart. “But he won’t be found. He, all of ’em, can hide in thin air.” She waved her arms around the wind-tossed countryside of mesquite and towering rock. “Done so his whole life.”
Her lids dropped like they had when she was passed out on the trail. Like they had when she slept in his arms. But he toughened up so her trembles and the recollections didn’t move him. He reckoned he owed her the truth, just like she’d told him just now.
“Well, Miz Jessy Belle,” he said, leaning next to her against the hitching post. “I sorely need cash for my land. I turn you in, you can tell the sheriff the truth. About doing your good deed alerting old Tinker. That ought to sway some good your way. You already paid a price with your horse and your hangin’. And I intend to give Sister half my reward for the troubles you caused her.”
Her red cheeks paled again. “What trouble? I’m earning my keep. I did laundry after Matins. Cooked a ham hock, got beans soaking. I’m even learning to sew a nun dress.”
“I won’t chance you bringing more danger to Sister Adelaide. You killed her daughter.”
“What?” Her voice squawked. Letting go of the hitching post, she stumbled into a heap on the ground. Eyes rounder than two full moons looked up at him. “Killed who? What are you on about?” Her voice was still soft from her injury, but he heard the shock, the pain.
Part of him wanted to help her to her feet, but the other part struck terror at touching her warmth again. “In Butter Creek.” He heard his own harshness.
Jessy Belle sat in the dirt, breathing hard. “Sister Adelaide’s dead wrong. You’re wrong. Nuns can’t have daughters.”
Redd snorted again, but wondered if he’d blundered. Sister was incognito and living realistic as a nun. Compromising her disguise could do real harm. “I meant, it was a niece she raised up and loved like a daughter.”
“None of us killed anybody. Perkins gang aren’t killers. I swear on it.” Her words, louder than before, must have hurt her throat, for she grabbed at her neck with one hand and rubbed.
“You haven’t been truthful yet.”
“Well, believe this, Mister Redd. We don’t kill. Never have. Never will.”
“I disbelieve you.”
“Well, I speak the truth. Last Christmastime, one mush head named Rolly Gitts brought a hostage into our camp. Texas. Canadian River. Wanted to ravish and kill her. But Ahab refused.”
“What a gentleman.”
Jessy Belle jerked to her feet, stayed far away. Hung tight to the post like she’d float
She gazed up at the clouds again, and a shudder traveled from her head down her back. A normal woman would have inspired him to gather her close, to warm her and to comfort her. To halt those jitters. But not an outlaw woman. Who if she thought herself skinny was dead wrong. She filled out all the right places for a gal. His cock twitched, and he tightened his knees.
“Well, what do you plan now?” Redd asked, hating that her wits and her bravery and her strength at getting loose from a noose was all starting to inspire him.
Jessy Belle looked him full on, eyes dripping tears. “Redd, truth to tell, it was me alerted that rancher. I have mended my ways. It was dark. He couldn’t mean to shoot my horse. As for....as for me getting left behind, well. It’s always been Ahab’s creed. Run for your life and don’t look back. No matter who or what.”
“Not even his sister?” Redd’s grunt got Snapper whickering in return. His arms folded across his chest. “And you won’t identify him to the law?”
Her white cheeks grew red like face paint. “We had the same mama.” The simple words once again threatened to touch his heart. “But he won’t be found. He, all of ’em, can hide in thin air.” She waved her arms around the wind-tossed countryside of mesquite and towering rock. “Done so his whole life.”
Her lids dropped like they had when she was passed out on the trail. Like they had when she slept in his arms. But he toughened up so her trembles and the recollections didn’t move him. He reckoned he owed her the truth, just like she’d told him just now.
“Well, Miz Jessy Belle,” he said, leaning next to her against the hitching post. “I sorely need cash for my land. I turn you in, you can tell the sheriff the truth. About doing your good deed alerting old Tinker. That ought to sway some good your way. You already paid a price with your horse and your hangin’. And I intend to give Sister half my reward for the troubles you caused her.”
Her red cheeks paled again. “What trouble? I’m earning my keep. I did laundry after Matins. Cooked a ham hock, got beans soaking. I’m even learning to sew a nun dress.”
“I won’t chance you bringing more danger to Sister Adelaide. You killed her daughter.”
“What?” Her voice squawked. Letting go of the hitching post, she stumbled into a heap on the ground. Eyes rounder than two full moons looked up at him. “Killed who? What are you on about?” Her voice was still soft from her injury, but he heard the shock, the pain.
Part of him wanted to help her to her feet, but the other part struck terror at touching her warmth again. “In Butter Creek.” He heard his own harshness.
Jessy Belle sat in the dirt, breathing hard. “Sister Adelaide’s dead wrong. You’re wrong. Nuns can’t have daughters.”
Redd snorted again, but wondered if he’d blundered. Sister was incognito and living realistic as a nun. Compromising her disguise could do real harm. “I meant, it was a niece she raised up and loved like a daughter.”
“None of us killed anybody. Perkins gang aren’t killers. I swear on it.” Her words, louder than before, must have hurt her throat, for she grabbed at her neck with one hand and rubbed.
“You haven’t been truthful yet.”
“Well, believe this, Mister Redd. We don’t kill. Never have. Never will.”
“I disbelieve you.”
“Well, I speak the truth. Last Christmastime, one mush head named Rolly Gitts brought a hostage into our camp. Texas. Canadian River. Wanted to ravish and kill her. But Ahab refused.”
“What a gentleman.”
Jessy Belle jerked to her feet, stayed far away. Hung tight to the post like she’d float
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