HELL HATH NO FURY (A Jess Williams western novel) (16 page)

             
“Of course I did. I didn’t start it, he did, and I finished it just like I’m going to finish this next biscuit here,” replied Jess, as he picked out another huge biscuit and slathered some butter on it. Jim and Jess talked for a while about things in general. Then, Jess said goodnight and headed up the steps to his room. Annie had her door opened slightly and when Jess walked by, he saw Annie sitting at a small table with a mirror. She was brushing her hair out and she spotted him standing there in the reflection of the mirror. Annie stood up and walked to the door.

             
“I heard about what happened at the saloon, Jess. Are you okay?” Annie asked.

             
“I’m fine, but old Hardtack might have to retire from boxing after what happened.”

             
“I heard he was unarmed and you just shot him—twice,” said Annie.

             
“Hey, it was either that or get into a brawl with him and maybe break a finger or my hand and then what would happen when we finally find Cliff Hunt? I’m not getting into fistfights and messing up my hands and I tried to tell him that, but he was too drunk to listen.”

             
“I suppose you’re right,” replied Annie.

             
Jess heard Sara holler from her closed door. “Remember, I said separate rooms.”

             
“Yes ma’am. We’re just talking in the hallway. I’m going to bed now,” replied Jess. Just before Annie closed the door, she poked her head out and quickly kissed Jess on his cheek.

             
“What was that for?” asked Jess.

             
“For giving me half of that gold and getting me a job working for these nice people here,” replied Annie, as she slowly closed the door to her room. Jess went to his room and washed up a little and retired for the night—his thoughts wandering to Annie.

XXX

              Sara fixed a huge breakfast of pork fat, bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits and flapjacks and they all dug in. Jess had a second helping since he missed most of his supper last night because he had to go to the saloon and help Andy.

             
“So, Annie, I suppose since you accepted the job working for Jim here that you’re going to settle down here in Black Creek after we’re finished up with Cliff Hunt,” said Jess.

             
“Yes. I talked it over with Jim and Sara here last night after supper and I agreed to take the job. I can’t really go back to my previous home since the ladies will all be staring at me after what happened there and I don’t think I could stand it. I guess I need a fresh start and these two people here have treated me like I was family and the rest of the town seems nice too,” replied Annie. “I can pay to have my own house built now that I have all that gold that we found. Jim and Sara said I could stay here with them until my house is finished so everything worked out just fine and I have you to thank for it,” replied Annie.

             
“Well, you’re welcome and if you want me to hold the note on your new house, I’ll be glad to do so and we can work out really low payments if you need it,” replied Jess.

             
“I think it’s all going to work out just fine,” said Sara. “I do wish that I could change your mind about killing Cliff Hunt by yourself, Annie. You should let Jess take care of him.”

             
“I understand your feelings about it and I thank you for your concern, but it is something that I just have to do. I can’t really explain it,” replied Annie. “Besides, I’ll have Jess standing right next to me when it happens and if I freeze again like the last time, he’ll be there to save me again just like he did before.”

             
“I sure will,” said Jess, as he washed down his last bite with the few swallows of his coffee he had left in his cup. “Sara that was quite a tasty meal.”

             
“Like I cook any other type of meal and you’re quite welcome Jess,” replied Sara.

             
Jess noticed that Annie was wearing a brand new shirt. “I see you got a new shirt to replace the one I cut up.”

             
“Yes, Jim here took me into the store and let me pick out two new shirts and another pair of pants and I can pay him for them later,” replied Annie.

             
“I always carry two sets when I’m out on the trail myself. That way I can have one set cleaned up when I get a chance to get to a town and get me a hot bath,” said Jess.

             
“Well, I need two sets in case you decide to start cutting one up again with that bowie knife you have,” retorted Annie.

             
“I needed some light in the mine and your shirt came in handy now didn’t it?” asked Jess.

             
“Yes it did, but you could’ve cut up your shirt instead of mine,” retorted Annie.

             
Jess blushed a little as he smiled. “I have to be honest about it, I simply never thought about doing that,” replied Jess, laughing.

             
“Oh, so now you think about it?” asked Annie.

             
Jess stood up and put his hat on. “I guess I’d better get over to see the sheriff and then go to the bank. Don’t forget to see Mr. Jameson today, Annie,” Jess said, as he started to walk out of the room.

             
“Go ahead and run out before I can finish my conversation with you,” complained Annie.

             
“That’s the problem, you never really finish one,” replied Jess, as he walked out.

             
“Don’t you get smart with me or I’ll shoot you in your behind,” hollered Annie.

             
“I’m sure you’re looking at it right now,” Jess hollered back. Annie looked frustrated, but Jim was chuckling at the table until Sara shot him a look.

             
“Jim, you let those two work out their own problems,” said Sara.

             
“What? I never said a word, I was just laughing,” replied Jim.

             
“You didn’t have to, I knew what you were thinking,” replied Sara, a stern tone in her voice.

             
“You know, you could do a whole lot worse than Jess, Annie,” said Jim.

             
Annie looked confused and then she blushed two shades of red. “And just exactly what is that supposed to mean?” asked Annie.

             
“Go ahead and explain what you meant because I know exactly what you meant,” said Sara. Now both Sara and Annie were glaring at Jim.

             
“I think I’ll have another one of these delicious biscuits and stuff my mouth with it,” replied Jim, sheepishly.

             
“That’s the best idea you’ve had so far today,” replied Sara. Annie sat back in her chair and Jim and Sara both noticed that she was slowly forming a slight smile on her lips.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

              Jess walked in to find Sheriff Fowler sitting at his desk and his two deputies sitting in front of it drinking coffee.

             
“Help yourself to a cup if you dare to, Jess,” said Paul Fadden, one of the two deputies.

             
“Yeah, it’s some pretty rough stuff for sure,” added the other deputy, Frances Hendon. Jess poured himself a cup and took a sip and made a face.

             
“You boys are right. This stuff is terrible,” replied Jess.

             
“Well, you could buy me a new pot and some good coffee for us with all your newfound wealth. We can’t afford the good coffee on what the town pays us,” replied Fowler.

             
“I might just do that, Sheriff.” Jess heard some moaning from the jail cell and he looked over to see Hardtack sitting up holding his head with one hand since his other one was bandaged up and in a sling.

             
“Damn, what in the hell happened to me?” Hammer looked at his arm and then at his leg. “It looks like I’ve been shot twice and my head feels like it’s going to explode any second now,” exclaimed Hammer. “Is that coffee I smell? Can I get a cup of it?”

             
“Sure, if you want some,” replied Jess. Jess poured Hammer a cup and he downed it while making a face. “That’s some nasty snake oil you got there. Why am I in jail? Did I do something wrong—again?”

             
Jess handed him another full cup of coffee, which Hammer downed pretty quickly. He looked at Jess and then it all started coming back to him.

             
“I remember you now. You’re the one who shot me when I tried to force you into a fistfight over at the saloon.”

             
“I’m sorry, but I did everything to try to talk you out of it,” replied Jess.

             
“I suppose I was all liquored up too, wasn’t I?”

             
“Andy tells me you drank two bottles of rotgut whiskey all by yourself last night,” replied Jess.

             
“I gotta quit drinking like that. It makes me do crazy things and sometimes I don’t even remember what I did the next day,” replied Hammer. “You don’t look like you’re hurt much, Mister. How many times did I hit you?” Hammer asked.

             
“You didn’t. I shot you twice before you finally quit trying to force me into a fight with you,” replied Jess.

             
“Damn, that’s just mean,” exclaimed Hardtack.

             
“You were pretty mean yourself, Hardtack,” replied Jess.

             
“Yeah, I know I have a temper when I get all liquored up. I suppose even though you shot me, I owe you an apology, Mister. I’m right sorry about what I did, honest,” replied Hammer, really meaning it. “So, Sheriff, when can I get out of here?”

             
“When Jess Williams here leaves town and not a moment before,” replied Sheriff Fowler.

             
“Damn, I know about you, Mr. Williams. You’re that famous bounty hunter in them dime novels I read all the time. I guess I’m lucky I’m still alive,” replied Hammer.

             
“You’re right about that,” replied Sheriff Fowler. Hammer laid back down on his bunk and fell asleep again.

             
“Jess, I found some information on that Cliff Hunt fellow. I heard that he was spotted up in Devil Ridge the other day. Seems he raped and killed one of the whores working the saloon there. I suppose you’re heading that way today?” ask Sheriff Fowler.

             
“Thanks Sheriff, but we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning since I still have some business to attend to at the bank” replied Jess.

             
“I suppose you’re getting all that gold you found assayed, eh?”

             
“You’re a right smart man, Sheriff. Once I find out how much I made, maybe I’ll buy you and your boys some of that good coffee Jim stocks over at his store,” replied Jess, as he walked toward the door. Sheriff Fowler hollered out the door. “And, don’t forget about a new pot, too!” Jess simply waved his hand in the air.

             
Jess walked over to the bank to find Mr. Jameson sitting at his desk with Annie. “I see you wasted no time in getting that account opened up,” said Jess.

             
“I sure didn’t,” replied Annie. “There is a man in the safe right now weighing all the gold. Soon we’ll find out just how much we have.”

             
The man came out from the back and Jameson got up and walked back to the safe and locked it. He returned to his desk where the assayer was writing down some numbers. When he was done, he looked up at Annie and Jess.

             
“It seems like you two are some mighty lucky people finding that much gold and especially when you didn’t even have to mine it out the hard way,” said the assayer.

             
“So, how much do they have?” asked Jameson.

             
“Well, I weighed one hundred and fifty pounds give or take an ounce. That comes to twenty four hundred ounces of pure gold. Gold is going for almost nineteen dollars an ounce, but I have to take a little off the top for all my expenses so I figure I can pay you fourteen dollars an ounce. That comes to a grand total of thirty three thousand and six hundred dollars,” replied the assayer.

             
“That unacceptable,” exclaimed Jameson. “You are making a low offer just to pad your pockets. You don’t have all that many expenses for you to take almost five dollars an ounce. You stand to make almost ten thousand dollars profit.”

             
“Hey, I have to transport all that gold and use at least four hired guards when I do and I have to insure the gold too,” exclaimed the assayer.