#95 Dark Secrets
Dark Secrets
By
Patty Wilkinson
Some strong language, violence and adult themes
Please note this is set in series one, before Jess and Millie were together.
Chapter 1
Slim Sherman and Jess Harper were sitting in the barn mending tack and occasionally glancing out at the torrential rain falling beyond the open barn door.
“Carries on like this fer much longer we’ll hafta start bringing in two of every kind fer ol’ Mr Noah and his Ark,” Jess said grinning over at his pard.
Slim perused the view beyond the door and said, “It sure doesn’t seem to be letting up any...”
Then more thoughtfully, “You know Jess, this puts me in mind of that time Judge Hammond came to stay...the weather was just like this.”
Jess looked slightly startled, “Hell I ain’t thought about that in ages...when was it...sometime in my first year here?”
Slim nodded, “Yeah, I guess you’d just begun to really settle down. Andy still thought you could walk on water,” he added with a sly grin. “Old Jonesy carried on giving you kind of a hard time on occasion, as I recall.”
“I remember,” Jess said grimacing, “So how about you back then Hardrock? What did you think of your new ranch hand?”
“Oh, I’d pretty much gotten used to you and your strange little ways,” Slim said with a huge smile and wink... then he sobered, “After all that happened back then I reckon I began to trust you completely and think of you as a real good friend...especially when the going got tough,” he added.
“Same here, I reckon we both ended up lookin’ out for each other...Jonesy and Andy too. Jeez, who’d have thought there were so many dark secrets all under one roof,” he added looking somewhat stunned, and shaking his head.
Slim nodded, “I knew there was something going on with you…when you started taking way too many baths,” he chuckled, “I guessed there had to be a woman involved.”
“Well, you can talk…I seem to remember a certain lady featured pretty large in your life around about that time too.”
Slim looked sheepish, “Yeah and even young Andy didn’t escape the female wiles either, did he?”
“I remember...I guess it was just Jonesy who was kinda immune to the fairer sex...but I reckon he had his share of problems too.”
“Yes, problems and secrets like the rest of us,” Slim said quietly. “It all started when Mort Cory rode in on just such a day as this,” he added.
Both men looked out into the waterlogged yard and remembered that fateful day all those years ago...Read More »
# 94 Blood Ties
Blood Ties
By
Patty Wilkinson
(Some adult themes, violence and strong language)
Chapter 1
It was early Spring and the men folk at the Sherman Ranch and relay were in a state of turmoil as Daisy, their beloved housekeeper, went about her annual Spring Clean.
Mike, the rancher’s young ward, had suffered most under the onslaught; having to tidy his room and re-house his pet racoon to a pen in the yard. However Slim Sherman and Jess Harper had escaped practically unscathed, simply retiring to the barn saying they had work to do, “Harnesses to mend and the like,” Jess had added vaguely.
Now on a bleak March afternoon the couple sat in the barn looking and feeling deeply miserable.
“Don’t fret Jess, Daisy’s bound to settle down and turn her hand to the vegetable patch once the warmer weather arrives.”
“Yeah and when will that be?” Jess asked morosely, peering out at the grey scene beyond the barn door.
Slim just shrugged, “Come on Pard let’s go see what’s for supper huh.”
“Probably cold cuts again,” Jess said looking even more hard done by, “she said she was doin’ out all the kitchen cupboards, shouldn’t think she’s had time to cook.”
However, Jess immediately realized he’d been mistaken when they opened the door and the delightful smell of beef stew assailed their nostrils, both men perking up immediately.
They were just finishing the first course when Jess made the tactical error of asking Daisy how the cleaning was going.Read More »
#93 Back to the Bad Old days
Back to the Bad Old Days
By
Patty Wilkinson
(Some violence, strong language and adult themes)
Chapter 1
The Reverend Joshua Wesley had been sitting in his chilly vestry, writing his Sunday sermon for over two hours. He stretched and decided to call it a day. Tidying his desk, he moved over to the door connecting the little room to the main Church and then stopped in his tracks...the man was there yet again...
He was shabbily dressed in a dusty old black frock coat and wore a black Stetson with a bright red hatband, adorned with a single feather. He looked like someone on the drift...or possibly a miner Joshua thought as he viewed him more closely...That would account for the bulky saddle bags he carried with him; and the pack mule that had been lodged over in the livery for the last few days.
Joshua had done his best to try and help the sorely troubled looking man, who had visited the Church daily. But every time he’d approached him, he rushed away...muttering he was fine and was not in need of help. The good Reverend had made it his duty to try and seek out the man in town. But other than the fact that his horse and mule were at the livery, nobody else appeared to have clapped eyes on him, save the Padre. According to old Bert at the livery...nothing was known about the stranger.
Now as he watched the middle-aged man kneeling in prayer...his expression one of intense despair, he knew he must help him. He walked quietly over and sat in the pew beside him, effectively blocking his exit.
After a while the fellow sat up and looked over to the Padre, before desperately seeking an escape route.
“It’s alright,” Joshua said placing a gentle hand on the older man’s sleeve, “whatever troubles you I’m sure the Good Lord will help...and maybe I could too, if you’d care to share your problems?”
The man sighed and then looked deeply into the Reverend’s eyes and said decisively, “Yes, the time has come...”
Joshua said nothing but just sat quietly waiting for him to continue.
He finally pulled himself together... “I have been coming here daily Padre to try and find the strength...the courage to go and confess to a terrible crime I have committed. Now is the time; I must seek out the Sheriff and tell him everything.”
“There is a greater law than the Sheriff you know,” Joshua said quietly, “have you confessed your sins to God?”
He nodded, “Oh yes...but you see I never really meant to kill him Padre...it was an accident...really it was!”
Joshua tried to hide his shock, “You killed a man, my son?”Read More »
#92 Hell Hath No Fury Like ...
Hell Hath No Fury Like…
By
Patty Wilkinson
(Strong language, violence and adult themes)
Chapter 1
Jess Harper had a secret tryst with his girl Millie Johnson. He’d been drinking in the saloon where she worked, along with Slim Sherman and Sheriff Mort Cory all evening. But just now Millie had gone off duty, giving Jess a little wink and a wave as she had disappeared upstairs to her room.
He waited five minutes and then made his farewells. Slim knew better than to ask where he was off to, knowing full well. Also knowing what a private man his pard was and sure wouldn’t want his personal business spread around the saloon. So, he just nodded and with a brief, “See you later,” returned to his conversation with Mort.
Jess made his way down the dark alleyway at the side of the saloon, heading for the outside fire escape, knowing that Millie would be waiting at the top to let him in.
He must have been about halfway down the alley when someone leapt out of the shadows and brought a rifle butt down hard on the back of his head. He fell like a stone...but then moments later rallied and tried to get up as blows from his attacker rained down on his face and chest...while another booted him in the guts...the last thing he heard before everything went black were Millie’s frantic screams.Read More »