The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Six
Slim never expected Mort to still be in the cabin when he and Andy at last returned.
�Slim, you two all right?� Mort asked, his face drawn with worry.
Slim nodded but he couldn�t speak. And he couldn�t hide the embarrassment from his face. There was no denying that his eyes were red from weeping.
�Andy, why don�t you go to bed now?� Jonesy asked, his own eyes misty.
�What about Jess?� Andy asked.
Mort glanced with uncertainly at Jonesy. �I�ve told you all that I know. The Sheriff said he�d
send along the items that Jess had with him.�
Andy fought back his tears as he explained, �I mean....well we got to bury him.�
�Oh,� Mort said, again glancing with uncertainly at Jonesy. �I reckon they�ll bury him in Carter Springs.�
�That�s where it happened?� Slim asked.
�Right outside,� Mort informed.
�You know that, sheriff?� Slim questioned.
Mort shook his head no.
�Jess belongs here,� Andy stated. �Along side Ma and Pa.�
Slim looked taken aback. �Andy, I don�t-�
�He�s right, Slim,� Jonesy cut in. �I hate to think of Jess lying in some unmarked grave in some boot hill. We need to bring him home to rest. Maybe not in our plot-�
�Jonesy!� Andy criticized angrily.
��Cause I�m thinking,� Jonesy said, paying no attention to Andy�s outburst, �that Jess always favored that springs, you know the one, Slim. Up by the canyon. He�d go there sometimes just to sit and fish. I bet he�d like to be buried there, under one of them trees that I�d catch him napping under when he was suppose to be working.�
Slim glanced at Mort. �Mort, when you get back to Laramie could you wire the sheriff and tell him that we�ll bury Jess here?�
�Be glad to.�
Slim pulled from his pocket a couple of bills.
�No Slim,� Mort said with a shake of his head. �Jess was my friend too. I�ll pay for the telegram. It�s the least I can do for him. I�m just glad you�re bringing him home.�
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