The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Thirteen
Jess woke slowly. He was in a bed. A clean bed. A bed that had sheets and pillows and a warm blanket. He tried to sit but as soon as he moved, the pain stopped him. He couldn�t hold back a moan escaping from his lips.
�Ma!�
He winced hearing the high pitch sound of the child�s voice.
�Ma! Come quick!�
The sunlight in the room hurt his eyes, making his headache more painful. He quickly closed his eyes.
He heard the drapes being pulled.
�Is that better?�
He opened his eyes once more, very slowly. The room was dark. A lantern was being lit. He
looked at the woman. He remembered her. It was one of the few memories that he had. Only now she looked softer. Gone was the suspicious expression she had given him in the barn. Now her face only looked concerned as she studied his face.
�I took both bullets out,� she explained. �The first one wasn�t in deep.�
He stared at her with curiosity written across his face.
�The one in your shoulder was a mite deeper. But I got it out,� she described, watching for some sign that he understood. �You probably got some headache. You got hit awful hard in the head. I didn�t think I was ever going to get that bleeding to stop.�
He felt his head. A bandage was wrapped tightly around his scalp.
�Where am I?� he asked.
�Don�t you remember?� she questioned.
�I remember...� He tried hard. But all he could remember was, �You had a gun on me.�
She nodded. �I still got it.� She moved away from the bed to the dresser. She picked up the shotgun. �So if you�re thinking...�
�With this headache, I ain�t thinking nothing.�
�Probably too weak anyhow to cause me any trouble. Now Mister, who are you?�
He had to think for a moment. What had the wanted posted said? �Harper. Jess Harper.�
�I know. I seen the poster. But who are you? A stage robber? Or bank robber? Or a...� she paused a moment before saying, �murderer. The poster don�t rightly say what you�re wanted for. Just that you are.�
He couldn�t hide that he was startled. �Look, I�ll be on my way. I don�t want no trouble. I�m obliged what you did for me. If you�ll just-� He started to rise. Pain streaked through his head. He grabbed it and moaned softly.
She rushed to him and quickly pushed him back. Her touch was gentle. �Now don�t be foolish. You�re not going anywhere. You�re as weak as a new born kitten.�
�You going to get the sheriff?�
�Not likely,� she replied. �Ronnie, you watch him good while I get him some soup.�
His eyes stayed glued to her until she left the room. Why no sheriff? He looked at the young boy. He judged the child to be somewhere between seven and ten. �So you�re Ronnie?�
The child only nodded.
�She your Ma?�
Again the child nodded.
�Where�s your Pa?�
�Gone.�
�Gone where?�
�Just gone.�
�He coming back?�
�I reckon.�
Jess sighed with frustration. �So tell me, Ronnie, your Pa got any guns in the house?�
Ronnie moved closer to Jess. �Are you a bad man?�
Now Jess didn�t answer.
�My Ma says you were trying to steal our horse. My Pa said that there ain�t nothing worse than a horse thief �cause it leaves a man a foot. Why were you stealing our horse?�
�I tried to explain to your Ma that I was just borrowing it. I had ridden my horse and he was tired. I needed a fresh mount.�
�Oh,� the boy seemed satisfied with that answer. �Where were you going?�
�Away.�
�From here?�
Jess nodded.
�My Ma wants to go away.�
�Why don�t she?�
�Waiting for my Pa to return.�
�He been gone long?�
�I�m glad you weren�t stealing. My Ma would whip me good if I stole. I tried once. Took me an apple pie that was cooling on the window shelf.�
�I love apple pie. And Jonesy makes the best-� Jess stopped.
�Who�s Jonesy?� the child asked. �A friend of yours?�
Jess tried to remember. He tried so hard that he frowned. Maybe Jonesy was a cook at a restaurant. Or maybe a relative. Well at least he knew he liked apple pie. Why couldn�t he remember? You�d think a man would at least remember his own name.
She entered the room like a fresh breeze. �Here�s your soup.�
Jess started to sit up but just as quickly he fell back against the pillows.
She hurriedly placed the tray on the dresser. �Better let me help you.�
Jess didn�t want to move a muscle because each time there was pain. But he allowed her to help him sit up. For a second the room spun. But the dizziness soon was gone.
She pulled a chair close to the bed. Then like a mother feeds a baby, she fed him. Even occasionally wiping his mouth with her apron. He could smell vanilla that she used as perfume. His Ma always--His Ma! Was she still alive? What was her name?
�While you were sleeping you called out �Slim.� a couple of times,� she informed.
�Slim?�
She nodded. �Who�s Slim?�
He wished he knew. A friend? A relative? �Just a person I know.�
Her eyebrows shot up with surprise. �The way you sounded, I thought he might be a brother or cousin. Someone you�re close to. You sounded like you really wanted him to help.�
�Man�s liable to say anything when he�s dreaming, especially when he�s in pain..�
He sipped every bit of the soup. It was good. It reminded him of-He couldn�t remember. But he had soup similar to this and had enjoyed it. �Delicious, ma�am. Thank you.�
�Nothing much. Just bean soup.�
�I like bean soup.� Again how did he know that?
�How about some coffee?�
�I sure would like some. Thank you, ma�am.�
She started to leave. He suddenly grabbed her arm, holding tightly. �Ain�t you scared of me?�
�Should I be?� Her brown eyes locked on his blue eyes. She didn�t look frightened.
He let go of her arm. �How come you ain�t gone to the sheriff?�
�I would think a wanted man would be grateful that I hadn�t.� She turned away. She was gone from the room, but only for a few seconds. As she handed him the cup of coffee, she warned, �It�s hot.�
He could see the steam rising from the cup. The first taste burned his tongue.
Ronnie laughed. �My Ma told you.�
Jess grinned back at the child. �Shows that you should always listen to your Ma. I think I�ll wait a few minutes before I finish it.�
Ronnie again laughed.
�You ain�t told me your name,� Jess said to the woman. He wasn�t sure that she was going to answer. And for several seconds she didn�t.
She hesitated. �My name is Gwen. Gwen Jackson. Come with me, Ronnie. Mr. Harper...�
�Jess. It�s Jess.�
�Jess,� she repeated, �needs his rest.�
�But Ma!�
�Young man, he doesn�t need you pestering him. He needs his sleep. Now I�ve asked you. Don�t make me ask you twice.�
�Ronnie, we�ll talk later,� Jess promised with a wink. After she left, the smell of vanilla lingered on. So did his thought of who was Slim? Why was he calling out for Slim to help? Did he have a brother?
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