Sweet Things ~ (Billy the Kid - Tom Blyth)

7

     We spend four days at Jesse's hideout resting. Billy wants me to wait another day, but I'm getting restless. I feel like a burden and that everyone is waiting on me. I can't stand it any longer.

     Over the course of the four days, I don't do much. I leave my little bedroom to go see Jesse and say hello to his guys. Everyone is very polite, but I think it's partially because I overheard Billy threatening them, saying if anyone dared to look at me wrong, they would have to deal with him. Usually I would've scolded him, saying I can fend for myself, but I'm the only female in this house of men. Billy's protection has definitely saved me a few rough nights. Instead, I spend my nights with Billy. After I asked him to stay after my nightmare, he refuses to let me sleep alone, and I don't have any desire to. I haven't had a nightmare about fire or Major Murphy since I started sleeping next to Billy. He truly protects me day and night.

     When I'm not chatting with Jesse or his friends, I sit on the front porch with Billy, watching the tall grass swag in the wind. The breeze keeps me cool and it's nice to get the fresh air. I sit next to Billy on the porch swing, our legs overlapping, telling a stories and making plans for our journey ahead. When I finally convince him to let me leave after four days instead of five, we approach Jesse with our plan, assuming he's still wanting to come with us.

     Jesse takes a long drink of his beer. "Here's the thing you two. I can't go with you the rest of the way." His words shock both Billy and I.

     "But Jesse, why not?" I ask.

     "Well, there's a few complications," He starts, "I'm wanted in one of the large counties you have to pass through. To go around would be too long of a journey, and I can't ask you to do that for me. You two can make it, and I'll give you a list with a few more places you can lay low if you need to." Jesse pulls a pin from his shirt, yelling out he needs paper.

     After several minutes, no one is able to find paper, and Jesse gets irritated. "Seriously? The lack of paper in this place needs to be checked out." Jesse shakes his head, finally settling to write the list down on the back of a food bag. He hands it to Billy, who stashes it safely in his shirt pocket.

     "I will miss you, Jesse." Billy shakes Jesse's hand firmly, but Jesse pulls him into a hug.

     "We will see each other again, Kid. I promise you that." Billy nods, and moves aside so I can hug Jesse. I try to keep my emotions in check, not wanting to be the weeping woman in front of all these men, but I can't hide my sadness. Other than Billy, Jesse's one of the only others I trust in my life. Not seeing him for a long time is like losing a brother. He's family to me.

     Billy and I say the rest of our goodbyes rather quickly, as we aren't particularly close with any of Jesse's other men. We get our horses ready with our supplies, then mount them.

     "Where did you get these horses Billy? I thought ours were killed when our camp was attacked?" I ask him.

     "Yes, they were. These two are one of Jesse's men's extras. I saved his life during the fire, and he claimed he owed it to me to let me have them." He pats his horse's neck, "we were lucky to get some fine ones." I nod in agreement. We ride on for the rest of the day, changing pace so the horses can rest and we can talk. While the horses trot along, I can't help but admire Billy. Despite going through so much at such a young age, he displays a sense of resilience and determination. I think back over our time journeying together. He has always put so much effort and heart into everything he does; he truly cares. I'm thankful that he has chosen me to care about.

Billy tells stories about his time alone while I was imprisoned at Major Murphy's. One story of his really catches my attention. One night, he had crashed with Jesse and his gang. The gang decided to get drunk and hire women as entertainment. Billy claimed he drank but was too on edge to have too many, and felt he was the only one worried about me. His words make me smile as he continues, flattered he was thinking of me while everyone around him was getting drunk and laid. One of Jesse's gang members didn't like Billy, and was talking trash. Billy didn't appreciate this, and because he was so on edge, he picked a fight with the man. The man wouldn't agree to a gunfight, and so Billy suggested a fist fight.