My initial instinct, when I go home, was to check the box in the barn. But I had always been cautious, so decided to wait until morning. Just in case I had been followed.
Despite the three men leaving me alone, I had a funny feeling they didn't buy the act. If they had followed me home, the last thing I wanted was for them to see me delving into the box, hidden in the floor of the barn. Besides it would be quite safe with Honey standing over the patch of floor, where the box was hidden.
The other thing on my mind was if the loan shark came back, and turned over the house again. I didn't really want to lose that ruby.
I led Honey into the barn, and took off her saddle and bridle, before giving her a quick brush. Then went into the house.
Daddy was still asleep in bed. He would be a bit bruised, but physically he would be fine. Emotionally would be a different matter. I hoped that who-ever took the wedding band, would take it to the nearest fence. I could check that when I fenced the Pocket watch. Whilst I knew the ruby was worth more, I had already decided to sit on it for a while. It would just be too hot at the moment.
After checking on Daddy, I made sure all the doors were locked. Peering out the window, it didn't look like I had been followed, so I headed for bed. After the events of the day, it wasn't long before sleep took me.
I woke at dawn, the sun shining through the bedroom window giving everything a warm glow. Glancing out the window, the sky was a beautiful azure blue. It was gonna be another hot one.
I grabbed my jeans and a plain shirt. Followed by my gun belt and knife. I only wore a dress when I was working at the saloon. I'd always found the fences gave you a better price, if you didn't dress particularly femininely. I'd planned on taking the pocket watch over to Seamus, then give it a couple of days and I would do the same with the ruby. At least that way, Eddie and Billy wouldn't be hassling me for their share.
When I opened the front door, I hesitated and looked around. Last night had been close. I still wasn't 100% sure that the men believed my story, but hopefully they would be long gone by now.
Anyway, there was no-one about, so I headed to the barn.
After saddling Honey, I tied her up outside. Slipping back into the barn, I went to the stall, where Honey normally stood. Clearing away the straw, I found the loose wooden plank, and lifted it.
Underneath was the storage box. I opened it up, and grabbed the pocket watch, leaving the ruby in the bottom. I quickly closed the box and replaced the plank, putting straw back over the top.
The pocket watch, I chucked in my satchel, then went outside.
I smiled to myself before mounting Honey, and heading towards Emerald Ranch.
Seamus was in his usual place leaning on the work bench beside the big barn. He thought his sideline was a deep dark secret, but everyone in the state new Seamus's sideline, so the only person he was fooling was himself.
He smiled as I approached, "been a while, Jesse. You been behavin'" he chuckled.
"About as much as you," I huffed in reply.
He rolled his eyes.
"I need a favour Seamus?" I confided
He hummed at me in response.
"If someone brings in a wedding band, gold, with an inscription Amelia and Henry Maddox on the inside. Put it to one side will ya, I'll buy it off ya."
YOU ARE READING
Bulletproof
FanfictionJesse Maddox lives with her daddy, looking after him and trying to keep him off the bottle since her mama died. Her daddy doesn't do much apart from sit around the house and drink since his wife died. Bringing the money in is left to Jesse. She has...
