Chapter 22

(Chapter song ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’ by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers)

JESSE We run the horses into the yard of the cabin and slow them to a stop. The fifteen men all dismount.

I walk up to Blake, putting out my hand. “Thank ya. Couldn’t have done it without yer guns.”

“No problem. My wolfs been itchin’ for a proper gunfight.” He smiles. He runs his hands through his black hair. His blue eyes and scuff never really said wolf shifter to me.

“Where ya headed with yer cut?” I cross my arms.

“East. There’s settlements landing there. A small town just called for settlers. White Rock.” He says.

“Never heard of it. Good luck to ya.” I tip my hat and turn to my boys.

“You boys divvy that up. Mutt, you double dip, I’m neutering ya.” I point to him and he narrows his ice white eyes at me and ruffles his white hair.

“Try it.” He growls.

“Don’t think I won’t.” I eye him and walk to my saddle bag. I take the cross out and hold it in the silk. I lick my upper lip and spin my head around. Penelope must be in the house.

I walk fast to the door. “Pea!”

“Yes!”

I open the door and she's making the bed.

I walk up to her, smiling like a boy. “Please tell me that angel of yours is a asleep.”

She looks down and back up. “I don’t feel him. I think so. What’s this about?”

I lean to her. “Come with me.” I grab her hand and run through the trees “Jesse, what’s gotten into you?” She giggles as I pull her behind me.

Once we get to the river bank I spin around. “Uh…Sweet Pea!!” I pick her up and spin her around in my arms.

“JESSE!” She laughs.

I set her down and hold the cross up. “I got it, baby. I got the thing to fix it all.”

Her face falls. “What is that?”

I look at it. “I dunno. What I do know is this thing is gonna fetch us a lot of dough and when that happens, my little sweet Pea, you and me. We’re gettin’ outta here and I’m buyin' you the prettiest little ranch with a white pony just for you.” I smile as I point to her chest.

“Jesse. I told you. I don’t need that. I just want you. This…this feels bad. I don’t think you should have this.” Her brows stitch up as she glances at me.

“Trust me. Baby, this is good. Once I pawn this off, it’ll be the best life for you. One a woman like you need.” I lean to her and pull her close.

I smile. “Think of it. Nice two bedroom ranch house built by my hands. Horses out in the pasture. A pretty lake to sit by while I kiss your beautiful lips.” I kiss her gently.

I break apart and place my hand on her cheek. “We’d be happy, Pea. So happy. Please, be happy.”

She look me over. “You’re selling it.”

I nod. “To the highest bidder. Then I’ll come back and we take our 30,000 cut and ride off. Me and you.” I mumble on her lips.

“You really want this?” She smiles.

“Yes, Penelope. I do. So bad.” I cuddle her more.

“Then I do too.” She grins.

“YEEHAW!” I throw my hat and pick her up. I spin her again as she wraps her legs around me. She laughs in my neck as I hold her. “Pea, you will not have to worry about a thing. I promise you. Never.”

She pulls back as she catches her breath and holds my cheeks. “I love you.”

I grin at her and bruise her lips as I carry her around the pebble beach.

She’s mine and she’ll forever be mine. Between the cross and train haul, we’ll live so rich and I’ll hide us both. I’ll figure a way to stop Artemis from finding us and using her to get my secret.

Just because the angel said it, doesn’t mean it has to happen, does it?

I won’t even worry about that. I’ll get this cross spent and we head east. As deep as we can go.

As I kiss her hard, I sit us down. I will always kiss her like this. Nothing will ever keep me from her.

I’m home.

****

I exit the pawn shop and count the 4000 I got for the iron cross. This was better than I thought. I need to celebrate.

I walk into Langston's saloon. Of course I’m wearing a dude that I once wore during the Civil War. He’s a tall guy with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s one of those guys you really wouldn’t think twice about. The less attention the better.

I walk to the bar and order a shot. “That’ll be a half dollar.”

I toss a green back. “Keep the change.” I say in a deep voice.

“Thanks, Mister.” He tips the greenback to me and I take my drink. I lean my back on the bar and look around.

Lookie here. The laborers are back. My man missing two fingers doesn’t seem as excited as he used to be. He learned something.

I see off to the side, a card game. I could get in on that. I pound back my shot and order another.

I walk to the table. “Mind if I sit in?”

The men all look at me. An old timer looks at me. “Ya got the pot?”

I pull out the 4000. “I think I got it covered.”

“Well, damn. Pull up a chair.” A young, blonde man says.

I grab a chair and squeeze in between two miners. They’re still covered in the soot of the tunnels. Smoking roll ups.

The old timer shuffles. “5 card stud, boys. Ante up.” He flips the cards as he holds his cigar in his teeth.

A suit across from me looks like he doesn’t belong. Probably just stopping in while he waits for the train to the east. His pin strip looks crisp and his black hair is slicked to his head. He definitely looks cocky.

I buy 2000 worth of chips. If I can double this, it’ll be even sweeter.

The old timer deals and I flip my cards. Queen, 10, 2, 3 and 6. Shit hand.

I pull 3 and toss em. I get new ones and add them to my hand. Queen, 10, jack, 8, 9. Hot damn!

I throw my bet and the rest follow suit.

It goes around until the pot is at 500. Final call.

I throw my flush down while they’re duking pairs. I rake my winnings. “What can I say. I got the shoes.” I chuckle.

“I should say so. Don’t get too comfortable.” The rich dude smiles.

“Comfort loses games.” I tick my head to him.

“Fair enough.” He sips his whiskey.

“Alright, new guy, deal.” The old timer passes me the cards.

“Alright.” I shuffle the cards and deal ‘em out.

We go around and I lost the next few hands, but I knew I was coming back. I got a nice ace up my sleeve.

The next hand, I get my cards and peek at them. You got to be kidding me. I try to keep my card face as I look at the straight flush in my hand.

The call came and I throw down. “Read ‘em weep, boys. Straight flush.”

I grin as they moan and throw down their cards.

I collect my winnings when I feel the cold sting of metal on the back of my neck. I freeze when I hear a trigger cock.

The men around the table all stop and turn concerned at the owner of the weapon.

“Jesse. You have something of mine.” The voice was smooth and evil sounding.

“Dagin.” I sit up slowly with my hands where he can see them. I eye the guys around the table. “How’d ya find me?”

He leans to my back. “You think just because you change your suit, I can’t recognize it’s you? What kind of demon do you take me for?”

I see the men’s faces fall. I press my lips and shake my head to them telling them he’s not a demon. No need to freak out the locals.

“Well, I would say I peg ya for a psychotic dick, but that would be an insult to psychotics…and dicks.” I smirk and the guys try to hold their smiles.

He chuckles and brings the gun down on my head. My eyes explode in stars as my head hits the table hard.

I wince as he fists my hair and yanks my head back. His lips are right next to my cheek. He clenches his teeth. “Where’s my cross, you stupid, fucking waste of skin.”

“I don’t know.” I grit.

“You don’t know.” He nods. “Maybe I can jog your memory.”

He slams my forehead into the table.

“Fuck.” I whine as my eyes go even more white.

He yanks my hair. “WHERE IS IT?!”

The entire saloon stops and turns our way.

“Ok! I tell you.” I say as my hands fall into my lap.

He shoves my head and let’s go. I check my bleeding head.

“Talk.” He barks.

“I’ll talk, but first…” I side eye ‘em. “Why don’t you…HAVE A SEAT!” I pull my chair from between my legs and smash it over him.

He goes to shoot and I grab his arm. I give him a left hook, pick him up and land him right on the poker table. It cracks in half and chips, cards and cash fly through the air.

Dagin’s grabbed by one of the young guys. “Thanks for wreckin’ the game asshole!” He throws him to the bar which causes men to get hit and spill drinks.

Ok. Now it’s a bar fight.

Men stand Dagin up and lay punches into him.

Chairs and tables start flying and Dagin is fighting back. His eyes black as night.

He’s breaking bones and laying the throws as I duck bottles and people being tossed all over.

I pick up as much cash off the floor as I can and head for the swing doors.

I watch the fight and straighten my jacket. I wipe the blood from my nose and catch Dagins glare.

“See ya!” I lift my hat and smile.

“JESSE! GET BACK…” He yells and tries to run at me but he’s grabbed by a big guy, lifted up and beat into the floor.

I cackle as I walk out of the saloon. I didn’t gain as much as I thought I would, but I did gain.

I walk faster to my horse as I hear the place start to scream. Demonic growls come from the saloon. My guess is Dagin stopped playing. Time to split.

I run my horse out of town as men pout out bloody and some broken. Men are thrown out the door and Dagin steps out. His face looks like he’ll on earth as he roars at me. I wave and ride off.

We’ll need to move tonight. Dagin knows where I am and since I’ve back out on our deal, he’s gonna hunt us down. We need to get ahead of him as fast as possible. I don’t know what kind of reach a demon has and I don’t want to test it.