Chapter 25

(Chapter song ‘Right Girl, Wrong Time’ by Jon Langston)

PENELOPE After acquiring provisions from the mining town, we were back on our travels. The sun hung high and the warm desert breeze blew over us. The men left early to secure lodgings for when we get to a town called Las Vegas. Jesse says it’s a gambling town and we’ll have lots of fun there. It conflicts inside being a spiritual woman, but I’ve trusted Jesse thus far, I shouldn’t doubt now.

We ride for a while then give the horses a break and walk for a time. The desert floor is dry and hard under my boots and it’s not the greatest scenery, but I’m not picky. The sprigs of plants dot the landscape with the mountains on the horizon.

“I…um…I know this isn’t the greatest plan, but I’m glad ya came with me.” He glances at me as he holds his horses bridle.

I walk on the other side of the horses head. “I wouldn’t have made any other choice.”

He stops the horse. “I bought ya something while we were in town.” He goes to the saddle bag and pulls out a book. “I’m not up on the good book or nothin’, but I figured you’d be missin’ it so, here.”

He hands me a small leather covered book. “Jesse, this must have been expensive. You didn’t have to do this. I pretty much have the scripture committed to memory.” I chuckle.

He leans over the horses nose. “Yer worth it. Open it.” He motions his chin to the book.

I turn the cover and inside is an inscription.

‘For my beautiful Sweet Pea. Keep the faith. Jesse.’

I feel a little overwhelmed at seeing something so beautiful from an Outlaw. I sit in silence as the horses ties clink and jingle with his gate. “Thank you.” I close it and hold it to my chest.

“You’re welcome.” I nod.

I skip around to his side and walk backwards. “This Vegas. Can we find a home there?”

He sighs and looks to the sparse white clouds in the sky. “Uh…I reckon we could. Is that where you want to set up? There’s more trees out east.”

“Maybe not forever, but for a while. It would be nice to have a home for a spell. What do you think?” I tilt my head and question.

He stops the horse and lets go of the harness. “I think…” He walks up to me and pulls me into him. I wrap my arms around his neck. “Any place where I can hang my hat with you, is a home to me.” He grins.

I giggle and he kisses me. He twirls me around and rocks me back and forth on my feet. It wasn’t long before we were kissing and dancing around the desert. He dips me and I laugh. Spinning me out and pulling me back in. He laughs as we twirl around.

He grabs me to his chest and stops. His gaze tells me he wants to say something.

He fixes my hair and his expression gets soft. He kisses me gently then breaks and runs his thumb across my lip. “We should skedaddle before we lose light.”

I was really hoping he would. I’m worried I’ll never hear them from him now. “Yes.”

He walks to his horse and mounts it. He pulls me up into his lap and he spurs the animal to move.

We make our way to Nevada border. We’re meeting the boys in a small town outside Vegas for supplies and to water the horses.

He stops at the corral and helps me off. He hands me some coins. “You go and find whatever you want. The prettier the better.” He smirks. “The boys are in the saloon. I’ll just be a minute.”

“Sounds good.” I smile.

I walk away and spin around, walking backwards down the dirt road. He’s watching me leave to the shops.

“Go on.” He laughs, waving his hands at me.

I grin bigger and turn forward. I jog to the board to find something to purchase.

****

JESSE I suck in my top lip as I watch the sun dance on her hair as she spins. My Penelope. There will never be another like her. Her toothy grin outshines it so easy. She’s so happy.

It’s killing me that I have to crush that smile.

I sniff and fix my hat.

I walk across the street to the saloon and find the boys.

We walk out and down the walk. “We need to stash the loot somewhere. Some place we can all get at it, but no one else.” I say as I walk with Dakota at my side and the rest behind me.

“I have a place out east where I can stash it. A house with a private vault.” Mutt says. “It’s where I’m building my own pack.”

I laugh. “Right. The Dragons.” I tease, shaking my hands in the air.

“Hey. It’s a threatening name. Better than the Bloodhound gang like you said.” He growls.

I look back at him and shake my head. “You can no more pass for a Dragon than Bill can grow a proper beard.” I snort.

“Hey!” Bill shoves me as I laugh. “It’s fillin’ in.” He rubs chin.

I drop back to him. “Harley has more hair on his ass than what ya got on yer face.”

“Watch it!” Harley growls “Don’t deny it, ya hairy Custer.” I chuckle.

I step back in line with Dakota. “So what’s the plan?” He asks.

“Welp. We hang out here until the heat dies down and then you all meet Mutt out east.

“What about you?” Dakota asks.

“I kinda wanted to talk to ya about that.” I look to the wood boards under our feet. “Ya know I love ya like a brother right?”

“Yep.” He answers pushing his hat up.

“You’re the only one I trust with my…” I stop and turn to Dakota. “I need ya to do me a favor.”

He looks at me with curious eyes. “Depends on the favor.” He crosses his arms and his brows furrow.

I nod. “I’d never ask this if it wasn’t weighin’ on me.”

He tilts his head. “Jess. What’s going on?” The boys all join his side.

My mouth ticks up and I let out a cough. I have to hold this together.

“Take…” I look down at the ground for a second and look back up at him. “Take good care of Pea for me. Make sure she gets a good life.” I stare into the eyes of my most trusted friend. I need to know she’ll be safe.

“Why? Where ya going?” He looks confused.

I contemplate telling all of them, but I can’t guarantee they’ll keep it from Penelope or try to stop me themselves. “Nowhere. Just…If I don’t make it outta this, promise me you’ll take care of my girl.”

He nods. “With my life.” He says without falter.

“Jesse!”

We turn and my heart stops. She’s wearing a pretty pink flower dress. Her bodice is lined in lace and pushes her bosom up nicely. The sleeves come to half her forearm and it’s that perfect silhouette I love on her. Her hat has pink and white flowers on it. Her hair is cleaned up and she’s the angel she should’ve been this whole time.

I quickly grab the hat off my head and walk to her. I’m smiling on the outside, but inside I’m losing my shit everywhere. It’s not goddamn FAIR!

“Miss, I say you look finer than an English princess.” I bite my lower lip in a grin.

Her cheeks turn pink. “Stop.” She giggles. “You like it?” She spins around.

“Darlin', you’re so pretty, my hearts breakin’. It truly is.” I smile.

She rushes me and kisses me hard, almost losing her hat. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her back the same. I cover us with my hat as I feel the boys staring. This ain’t no peep show.

I pull back a tiny bit. “You git used to this. There’s plenty more where this come from.” I say on her lips.

“I only need you." She whispers.

“Stop. You like the dresses.” I smirk.

She giggles. “Yes. The dresses are a nice surprise.”

“That’s all I’ll ever need. To hear your laugh and see your smile. Give me that and I’ll die a happy man.” I kiss her lips softly one more time before breaking away and leading her back to the boys.

“Ok. We leave for Vegas after some grub…”

Just as I say that, a loud eagle screech fills the sky. It’s so loud the town stops in its tracks and looks up.

The sky fills with a massive eagle as he calls out loud. His huge body floats down the main street and back up to the sky.

“Shit! IT’S ARTEMIS! GIT TO THE HORSES!” I yell as I pull out my guns.

Dakota grabs Penelope. “JESSE!”

Artemis circles around and comes in for a dive as I fire my guns at him.

His talons spread and I hit the dirt as he barely misses. The wind from his dive bomb blows my hat off and kicks up massive amounts of dust. He cries as he pulls up out the dive.

“Damn.” I mutter. I grab my guns while on my stomach and quickly reload. I hear the screech from behind and roll. I aim my guns at him and fire while I’m on my back. I follow his flight path as I fire bullet after bullet.

“JESSE!!”

I look as the boys get Penelope on a horse and pull their guns. They come out shooting. The bullets bounce off his feathers like thick hide.

He goes in for another attack and I roll. I scramble to my feet and duck between two buildings. I quickly strip my clothes off, run and jump into the air. My body melts to a hawk and I take flight. The wind under my large broad wingspan lifts me into the sky and my sharp eyesight pins Artemis. I correct for a bull worthy collision course.

It's like a standoff as he and I fly head to head. My eyes narrow and I screech loud.

Just as I close the gap, I right myself and hit him with my talons. His huge beak grabs my wing and I bite his head. We spiral toward hells dirt and try to rip and shred as we fall.

We’re mere feet from the desert floor when we break apart, barely graze land and take to the air again in different directions.

I turn with my dark shadow crossing the blazing sun. I spin around and find him in the sky.

He squawks and beats his giant wings fast. I do the same and our birds of prey collide again. The wind rushes past my ears as I snap and hook my beak into his flesh. He cries out and we fall to the ground. We hit so hard, I break off him and roll. I shift to a tiger and dig my claws into the soil to slow myself down.

He stops and shifts to a tiger too. He wants to play this game? Alright.

With a loud growl I lunge at him and I hit him with everything I have.

We bite and claw. The noises coming from our big cats sound like hell song as we sink our canines in. My large, muscular arms wrap around my daddy’s neck. I bite his cheek and neck as he tries to push me off.

You can feel the pounding of our bodies across the dirt even though you can barely see them in the kicked up sand.

I almost had ‘em until he shifted to an elephant, picked me up and slammed me into the ground several times as he let out angry trumpets. He drops me and steps on me. I bite his foot before he can do any bad damage, but I’m weak as the pain resonates through my body. He shifts to his human as I try to crawl away. He pulls a gun from a holster he has on his leg and fires. I scream and shift. My back feels like it’s on fire. I try to grab at the hole, but I can’t reach it.

He shoots again and I roll to my stomach. The pain is unbelievable. I whine and fight the urge to cry as my body starts to shut down.

I grit my teeth trying to fight the growing burn that going on inside me.

He squats down. “It’s just iron, but I’m sure it’ll convince you that I’m not requesting anymore. You will lead me to your sisters or…”

I hear screams of terror come from the town along with shouts and gunfire. I look up and the town is being torn apart. Demonic howls rise out of the pain.

My pain filled eyes stare on. “No.” I grit.

He leans to me. “You’re mine.”

My shaking head turns to him as he grins.

The pain is so much I can’t keep my head up.

“No…”