The next day they got an early start. Jesse seemed anxious to get there. He didn't talk much.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes several times. He sure was attracted to his wife, and he was getting used to the idea that she was his. Especially after that kiss on the cheek last night. He wondered if he said something to her, if it would make a difference. He didn't want an annulment. He knew that much. But how did he approach the subject?
As they neared the crossing, they noticed a herd of cattle going across the Red. It was a sight and they both watched.
"Big herd." He leaned on his saddle horn. "Well, according to Jimmy John the cemetery is at the back of the property, so let's go around."
She nodded.
They rode for a while, keeping their eyes out for anyone who might be following along.
Then he spotted the small fenced in cemetery and nodded.
They dismounted and Jesse went around reading the headstones.
When they reached it, there was a huge disappointment. It had been dug up; there was nothing but a hole and the headstone.
"Somebody got here before we did…"
"That's right mister, put your hands over your heads and don't move." A voice called from just outside the cemetery.
"We mean no harm…" Jesse yelled.
"Naw? Then what are you doin' here. This is a private cemetery." The man spit tobacco out the side of his face. He was tall, and unkempt.
Shannon stood beside Jesse.
Jesse knew she was probably scared, so he took her hand and squeezed it.
"No use being alarmed, I'm a Ranger." Jesse told the man as he came closer.
"A Ranger…what are you doin' here?" The man's eyes narrowed on him.
"This grave site…a prisoner of mine told me this is where he hid the money from a robbery. I came to collect it and take it back to Waco, to Ranger Headquarters."
"You can't do that…this is private property." The man fussed at him.
"That money isn't."
"It belongs to Mr. Doan. It's rightfully his. They stole it from him."
"How'd you know where to look for the money?" Jesse asked.
"Cause ain't anybody but family buried out here…that's how."
"Suppose we could go and speak to Mr. Doan?" Jesse asked putting his arm around Shannon.
"Let's go!" The man said, pointing the gun at their backs.
"If'n you are a Ranger, why didn't you stop off and ask permission to dig it up?" The man crooked his head and stared at Jesse.
"Because I figured they wouldn't want me taking the money back to Waco, for one."
"That's a fact." The man spit just beside Jesse.
"Who's the gal?"
"She's my wife." Jesse pulled Shannon closer.
"Go on in there, Mr. Doan is in there." He shoved the gun butt into Jesse's back and then turned and left.
"What can I do for you friend." The man inside looked at both of them with curiosity.
"I'm Ranger Jesse Cutler, and this is my wife. Jimmy John sent me here so I could take the money he robbed from you to Waco. It has to be reported, and the case closed once and for all."
Doan stared at him a moment. "Jimmy John would be J.J. Bankston, then?"
"That's right. He and his gang robbed you a few years back. They buried that money in your cemetery. He never got back to claim it." Jesse explained.
"What happened to him?"
"He was killed by Indians. Before he died, he told me about where he buried the money." Jesse held the man's gaze.
"Did he happen to say how much it was?" Mr. Doan asked.
"No…he didn't. Why?"
"Cause there weren't any money in those bags. My Uncle made 'em up to look like there was, in case anyone ever tried to rob him. Wasn't one dollar in those bags?" The man assured Jesse.
Jesse's brows rose in shock. Then he hung his head. "I guess it's a good thing Jimmy John died then. He'd have been awful upset to know there was no money. However, this leaves me in a little fix. I've got to report this to my superiors and I have no proof to back up my story. Do you think you or your Uncle could come with us to Waco and fill out a report so we can close this case once and for all?"
The man scratched his beard and looked at Shannon for a minute. "I can come…my Uncle's out there tending that herd that's crossing. How long will it take to get back here?"
"About three days, give or take a day or two." Jesse answered.
"Alright, I'll do 'er. 'Cause I want them to know that those outlaws didn't get away with anything."
Jesse nodded. "You got any proof of who you are and that it is a fact?"
"No, but follow me and you can hear it from the horse's mouth." The man told him.
Shannon started to follow him, but the man turned. "We won't need you ma'am. But you can look around the store, might be something you want."
Shannon nodded.
Jesse turned to look at her, "I'll be back." He promised.
She nodded.
~*~
"So you are a Ranger, huh?" The older man said as he shook his hand.
"That's right. I'd been chasing Jimmy John for some time, caught them up in Oregon. I was bringing them back to stand trial for the robbery when the Indians started attacking us. Killed all but my missus and me." Jesse explained.
"You took your wife on a man-hunt?" Mr. Doan narrowed his gaze on him.
"No…actually, I met her in Oregon, and brought her back to Texas. We were married there." Jesse smiled.
"Kind of dangerous for her, wasn't it?" Mr. Doan studied him for a minute.
"Yeah, but I couldn't leave her up there." Jesse explained.
"Naw…I guess you couldn't. Well, my nephew will ride in with you then and fill out the report."
Jesse twisted his head for a second. "Why didn't you tell us there was no real money in those bags?"
"'Cause if'n I'd told you, you wouldn't have cared if you caught them or not. I wanted them brought to justice. But, since they are dead, I guess they paid for what they did. And you can close the books on the case."
"I appreciate that."
"Mr. Cutler," Mr. Doan called Jesse back for a moment. "Next time you come on my property wanting something, you come to me first, you hear?"
"Yes sir…I will."
Mr. Doan nodded and waved at his nephew.
At the store, Shannon was sitting in one of the finest made rocker's she ever seen. She seemed more relaxed than he'd seen her in a while. He smiled.
"You ready to go?" He asked her.
"Yes, of course…" She reluctantly got up and followed him out of the store.
Then after they packed up with a few supplies, they left, headed for Waco.
Jesse had to admit he would have never guessed there was no money, but at least with Mr. Doan along the case would finally be closed and this would please his superior.
When they camped out that night though he had to make things look right between him and Shannon for Mr. Doan's sake at least.
And as night came, he made her bed beside his. She looked at it and without a word laid down where he had set it.
Later Jesse whispered at her ear. "Thanks…for this…" Jesse told her.
"We were legally married…" She whispered.
"Yes, we were." He laid an arm over her when Mr. Doan glanced at them before retiring.
The hand stayed on her all night long, and before morning, she had snuggled against him, her head just below his chin.
"Thought you two were going to sleep until noon." Mr. Doan chuckled.
"Oh…sorry." Shannon exclaimed and got up quickly. "I'll make the coffee."
"Thank you." Mr. Doan smiled. He looked at Jesse, "She's a beautiful woman, you're wife. I'd keep a tight reign on her myself, if she were mine."
"She's not only beautiful, but she's a doctor too."
"A doctor. Really…"
Shannon nodded. "Yes, I am."
Dishing up the meal to them, she listened while they talked for a short while.
Then it was on to Waco.
A sadness greater than anything she'd ever known assailed her, and she knew why.
She didn't want to say goodbye.
In a matter of days, it would be over, and she had to face it.
When they camped for something to eat, Shannon was cooking, Jesse was gathering firewood, and Mr. Doan was sitting on a large flat rock. Suddenly he keeled over onto the dirt, face first.
Shannon saw him and ran to his side.
She searched for the problem and at first, she didn't know. She called for Jesse and he came running.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Mr. Doan, he's keeled over. I'm not sure what's wrong?" Shannon looked frantic, checking his heartbeat she shook her head. "It's a rapid heartbeat."
Jesse laid him down on his back and began looking over him. It took several minutes, and then Jesse began searching around him.
Jesse searched the area for the culprit.
"What are you looking for?" Shannon asked.
"A snake…" He answered. "He's got snakebite symptoms."
"Oh my God. Why didn't I see that?"
Shannon peeled the tobacco out of the corner of his cheek and hunted for the bite. She found it on his leg; obviously, the snake had crawled up his boot.
She mashed the tobacco into the wound and wrapped it.
"What's that for?" Jesse asked as he moved about.
"It helps draw the poison out."
Jesse nodded. Then suddenly Jesse spotted him. The snake had frozen and was not moving, but it wasn't dead. He held it up on a long branch he found close by. He showed it to Shannon. "It's a Copperhead."
Shannon shivered.
"Better than being bitten by a rattler." Jesse told her. "It probably won't kill him…"
"Let's hope not, but it could cause a lot of tissue damage and infection. I'll have to disinfect it, and put more tobacco on him, then bandage it. We need to get him somewhere he can rest."
"Now?" Jesse asked his face screwing up.
"As soon as possible. He was bitten on the leg, so the poison has a long way to go to get to the heart, but we should get him stationary so I can take care of him."
"We aren't that far away. We travel now, we should be in Waco by early evening."
"Good, I want to splint his leg, so he doesn't move it and send the poison through his body. Can you make me some strong sticks to use?"
"Sure."
In an hour, Shannon had doctored him and wrapped him and Jesse had helped her with the splints.
They mounted him on his horse and Jesse tied him on, so he wouldn't fall.
Shannon stared at the snake. "The snake is rather pretty isn't it?" She asked not familiar with the kind of snake.
"As far as snakes go, yeah…"
"He never said a word."
"He's pretty tough."
They rode all day, and Shannon stopped off and on to check him. He was sweating and coming to every now and then. She gave him something to relax him, Jesse tied him in the saddle once more and they kept riding.
It was dusk when they rode into town.
The Ranger's office was closed.
"Let's find the local doctor. He might be able to treat him better." Shannon insisted.
"Alright, you stay here with him. I'll go find him."
She nodded.
An hour later, they had him in the local doctor's office and Dr. Martin was treating him. "You did an outstanding job of immobilizing him under the circumstances. I couldn't have done it better." The doctor told her.
"Thank you. It's important he lives." Shannon assured him.
"He'll be feeling much better by morning. You can leave him here and come back tomorrow."
Jesse nodded and they walked out on the street.
"Let's find us a room and tomorrow will go to the Ranger office. Maybe they can come over to the docs and get a statement from him."
"Let's hope." Shannon smiled.
"You tired?" He asked her as he took her arm.
"A little. Glad to be here though."
He looked at her strangely. "Maybe they can provide us with a bathtub."
"Oh that would be nice." Shannon sighed.
Just outside the hotel was a barber shop that was still open and the sign read, "hot baths".
"We're in luck." He told her.
"I can't believe it." She shrieked.
Jesse paid for her to go inside and take a bath. She was in so long he worried if she went to sleep, but she finally came out, and she looked so pretty and fresh smelling.
"I think I'll indulge in one. Why don't you go see if they have a room?"
"You mean two rooms…don't you?"
"Yeah…two rooms," he nodded.
"Alright…"
She went next door and the desk clerk was nearly asleep when she tapped the little bell.
"Excuse me; I need to rent two rooms." She said.
"Two? Ain't got two, ma'am. Got one."
Shannon shook her head. "I need two…"
"Don't got two."
"I'll be back."
She went back to the barbershop. She waited in the front room until Jesse was through. When he came through, she took a second look at him. He was gorgeous. He had his hair combed, his clothes dusted and he smelled so good.
"That's an improvement." She said.
"Thanks, did you get us a room."
"A room…yes! That's all they have."
Jesse shrugged and looked her in the eye. "Doesn't make any difference. We've been sleeping in the woods close by each other for some time. I think we can handle a room."
"Of course…" Shannon reddened.
"Are you hungry?" He asked her.
"Yes, I'm starved." She glanced around the town looking for a café. There was one still open. "Does this town stay open all night?"
"Practically, yes." He chuckled. "Come on; let's get us a big juicy steak."
"Sounds wonderful." She agreed.
The café was deserted and the waitress looked anxious to close up the café. "Are we too late?"
She glanced over her shoulder at the cook. "No, but if you don't mind I'm locking up. Otherwise I'll have half the town showing up at this hour."
"Sure, we understand. We just came in off the trail and we are starved." Jesse gave the girl a once over.
Shannon felt a jolt of something close to jealousy. She tried to squash it, but it wouldn't go away.
The waitress seemed to enjoy his glances and smiled at him every time she came to their table.
Shannon picked at her supper.
"What's wrong, don't like the food?" He asked innocently.
"No, it's fine…I guess I waited too long, I've lost my appetite." She tried to smile.
"You're just more tired than anything."
"I guess I am."
"Well, let's go settle in for the night."
However, Shannon hadn't paid for the room and it was sold out. There were no more rooms.
"I thought you reserved it for us." Shannon said.
"Nope, don't reserve unless I see money for it." The desk clerk answered.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Shannon felt suddenly exhausted.
"I don't know. But we won't find anything here, that's for sure." He drug her by the arm outside and spotted the livery open. "Come on…"
As they approached the livery, the old man running it scratched his chin and looked at them. "I got a wagon you and the missus can sleep in, if you like. Cost you a dollar."
"We'll take it."
"But…"
"It's better than the ground any day…" He told her.
The old man took his money and showed them where the wagon was. However, Jesse stopped her as she was about to climb in and lay down.
He pulled her to the side and he filled the bottom of the wagon with straw to make it softer for them. "Now you can lie down."
She looked at it and smiled. "Why didn't I think of that?"
She climbed up inside and lay down. He climbed in beside her and lay down.
Suddenly she rolled over to look at him. "Kind of close quarters isn't it?"
"Relax your legally married to me, so it's no shame."
"I guess you're right. Goodnight." She cried.
He rose up and leaned over her, turning her over so she faced him. "This may be the last time I get to do this, but I'm taking my chances."
And with that, he bent the distance and kissed her.
Not just a peck, not hard and unyielding, but soft and tender. The kind of kiss a woman remembers forever.
This time she responded with an abandon she never knew she had. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on.
When he raised his head…and looked into her eyes. "I'm gonna miss you…" He whispered.
She didn't know what to say, she was still reeling from the kiss.
"Goodnight Mrs. Cutler."
She was silent, as she stared at the roof of the barn. When he rolled over, she released her breath, "Goodnight Mr. Cutler."