Matters To Me

Chapter 62

"I told you! I told you not to sell grain to Tunstall, right? You have a contract with us!" Jesse yelled at the same farmer Billy and he had visited a few weeks prior.

Billy, Pat, and Jesse had ridden up that morning to talk to them upon Mr. Murphy's request.

"Fucking Mexicans," Jesse spat.

"He says that he told you not to sell grain to Tunstall, because you have a deal with us," Billy translated, frustrated with Jesse and how he was acting, yet also frustrated at the farmer.

"I have to sell to Tunstall, if I don't... I won't make money and without money... I can't feed my family."

"He says if he stops selling to Tunstall, he can't afford to feed his family."

"Oh, is that right, Billy?" Jesse asked, not buying it.

"Why don't you talk to me about it?" The farmer asked.

Jesse shoved the table that was on the porch aside.

"What the hell? What are you doing?" Billy asked, trying to grab Jesse, missing him as Jesse grabbed the farmer by the collar, pushing him down and holding him.

"Enough talking! All right?" Jesse said. "I warned you. I warned you! Mr. Murphy wants you to stop selling grain to Tunstall, right now. Got that?"

Billy turned to Pat who seemed unphased and unbothered by Jesse's actions towards the farmer.

"Otherwise, we're gonna torch your farm and we'll run you off the territory," Jesse continued, shoving the farmer aside. "Got that?" he said, spitting on the ground.

"This is my home, I will never leave," The farmer said, quickly grabbing his rifle, cocking it.

Before Billy could react, Pat fired his pistol, shooting the farmer in the chest.

"No, no, no!" Billy shouted, the farmers wife running at them. Billy caught her, keeping her from attacking Patt. "No, no! Pat, put it away! Don't shoot, don't shoot!" Billy shouted at Pat who raised his gun, no emotion on his face.

"No, damn you! Get off me!" The wife shouted, pushing Billy away from her, running to her husband.

"Leave! Leave! I said leave!" Another woman shouted.

Billy raised his hands, showing he meant no harm.

"Damn you, bastards! Go to hell! Murderers!"

Billy quickly started walking to his horse, in shock of the past few short minutes that had unfolded. How could so much go so wrong so quickly? Jesse went after Billy grabbing his arm.

"Fuck you!" Billy shouted, shoving his hand away, it was his temper that was the reason that man was dead. He had no right to put his hands on him and threaten him the way he did.

"Billy, these people, they don't mean anything!" Jesse argued as Billy mounted his horse.

"Git up! Hah! Hah!" Billy shouted at his horse, galloping away. How could Jesse think that?! That they didn't mean anything just because they were what? Mexican?

Billy rode into the camp, jumping off his horse, tying him up as he saw Missie coming out of their tent.

She could tell something was immediately wrong as he quickly approached her, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, standing to his full height. She hung in his arms, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She felt his hand on the back of her head as he held her close, burying his head in her neck.

"He killed him," he sobbed.

"What? Who?" Missie asked, pulling back, cupping his face as he set her down, wiping his tears.

Billy stepped back, angry, rubbing his mouth with his hand. "Pat. He shot the farmer. He killed him."

Missie gently took his hand and led him into their tent. She sat down in the middle of their bed as he followed sitting on the edge. He ran his hands over his face, bending down, resting his elbows on his knees.

"I can't fucking stand either one of them right now!" Billy shouted.

Missie gently nodded. "You don't have to."

Billy sighed, explaining what all had happened to Missie. Once he was done he glanced at her as she had a hand over her mouth in horror.

"His poor family," she whispered.

She gently wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "It wasn't your fault, Billy."

"I should've been faster."

"Hey, did you see Pat reach for his gun?"

Billy shook his head, he had been standing in front of Pat.

"Then you couldn't have known to stop him. And I know you, you would've tried."

Billy didn't feel any better. He felt like he watched Carlos's death all over again. The only hope he had was that Lincoln County would have a better justice system and no rings involved. He hated to admit that he hoped Pat would end up in jail. That was his friend. He knew if he hadn't had fired, the man would've shot Jesse, his other friend. How does one choose which life was more valuable?