Chapter 25: It'll Be Worth It All

Jess' fever hung on for a few days, but he was beginning to keep down much of what he put in his mouth. It was the nights, however, that were a bane to the entire house. Jess' sleep was full of nightmares, even worse than normal due to the fever. Hallucinations were not uncommon, causing for much confusion for the person staying up with him. The men of the house took turns sitting by his side, often pinning the thrashing man to his bed.

Chad jerked awake from a fitful sleep in the Sherman bunkhouse. He rubbed his face wearily. He hadn't imagined how difficult it would be getting Jess back home.

Joe Riley entered the small building, coffee pot and cups in his hands. "You get any sleep, Chad?"

Chad yawned. "What time is it?"

"Almost dawn."

"If that's the case, then no."

"This just can't go on forever, can it?"

Chad stared at the floor. "I don't know, pard."

Joe handed his friend a cup. "You think the Cap'n's wondering about us?"

"How should I know? He's probably written us off for dead or desertion."

The long-legged man sat in a bunk adjacent to Chad. "What're we gonna do, Chad?"

"Do?" Chad swung his legs down and held out the cup for another helping. He had gulped the brew down in two swallows, he was so desperate for the energy it gave.

"Once we're finished here." Joe ground the heel of his hand into his rid-rimmed eyes. "You reckon we're still Rangers?"

Chad took in his friend's haggard appearance. Was that nervousness in those steady features? "You worried about something, Joe?"

Joe leaned forward, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper, though no one was around. "Chad, I became a Ranger on account I couldn't stay outta trouble to save my life. It were the same for you. Shucks, I don't think we were even allowed to leave Texas on account of our pasts. If we ain't Rangers, then we ain't lawmen. And if we ain't lawmen…what the blazes are we gonna do? Up here, outta Texas..."

Chad took in his friend's almost panicked words and felt his own uneasiness rise. "Well, I guess we should've thought of that before running up here."

Joe looked hurt. "You knew we had to do this, Chad. You wanted to do this, for Jess, our friend."

Chad felt adrenaline surge as he anxiously got up to pace. "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Joe stood as well. "We knew the risks. You knew the risks. But Jess was in trouble. He needed help, our help, and you were more than willing take him home."

Chad's head was beginning to throb. "I know. I don't regret it. I just wish there had been another way."

"There weren't no other way, Chad. But if that's the way you feel 'bout it, then you can just…"

"What, leave? Are you really saying this to me?"

"Are you really sayin' that friendship don't matter? That Jess don't matter? That I don't matter?" Joe's eyes blazed brightly, and suddenly Chad was terribly aware of how large Joe Riley was. He loomed over Chad, his great chest puffed out and arms held rigidly at his sides.

Chad clenched his fists, but then let the air out of his lungs in a long sigh. "No, no I'm not. I'm sorry, pard. I'm just so…tired."

Joe put a hand on his friend's shoulder, his kind-hearted personality staying at the forefront. "I know you are, pard. So am I."

Chad smiled weakly. "As soon as this is over, we'll go back to Texas. Maybe we can get our spots back. I mean, who'd take our place? Our reputations are just so…"

"Awful?"

"I was going to say unbeatable, in courageous acts that is. The Cap'n will beg us to reenlist."

Joe ruffled Chad's hair like he was a little boy. "You always know how to cheer me up."

Chad glared and tried to put his wavy hair in order. "Dag-nab it, Joe. Don't do that."

Joe grinned far too brightly for the unholy hour.

A couple hours later found the men in the house, devouring a big breakfast of ham and eggs. Jess' fever had broken during the night, so they all decided to eat in his room to give him company.

Joe cleaned up his plate. "Real good, Jonesy."

The little man preened. "Now see there, you lot? There's a man who knows real cooking when he tastes it."

Chad rubbed his stomach and laughed. "He's got a cast iron belly, him and Reese. I can't tolerate Mexican chili, but they eat it by the gallon."

"Reese? That's your friend, another Ranger?" Andy questioned.

"Yep, Ol' Reese," Joe murmured. "Wonder if he made it back to Laredo?"

Jess poked his half-eaten breakfast with his fork. "What about you?"

"What about who, Jess?" Slim had been startled by Jess speaking. Though Jess had been recovering physically, he was remaining stubbornly silent about his emotional state, as was his way.

Jess' serious gaze took in the two Rangers. "Are you gonna be leavin' soon?"

Chad laughed nervously. "Well, I don't know. You want us to leave, Jess?"

Slim stood. "I think we need to get the teams ready, Andy."

"What? The stage don't come for an hour."

"Well then, you can both help with the dishes," Jonesy said and herded the Shermans out the door, catching on to Slim's hint.

Jess watched them leave, completely aware of the situation. He turned back to the remaining two. "Well?"

"Jess, we…," Chad stammered.

Jess pulled at the blanket covering his legs, his face brooding. "I know you took a terrible chance on me, bringin' me up here. You didn't know what the dickens I had been doin' before I wound up in Texas, but you risked your jobs to cart me up here. So…thank you."

"You're welcome," Joe said automatically. Then he shook his head with a snort. "Well, shucks, Jess. We wouldn't have left you out there."

"Yeah, Jess," Chad put in. He looked over at Joe, the memory of their early morning discussion ringing in his ears. "We knew what we were getting into the whole time. You're our friend. We'd do anything to help you get better."

Jess swallowed hard and stared at his hands on his lap. "Then…go home."

"Come again?"

He repeated, "Go home. I don't mean it bad, but you don't need to stay here. I'll be alright. I'm home now, thanks to you. Now it's your turn to do the same. Texas is your place, the Rangers your family. You should go back."

The two Rangers gaped in amazement. It was as though Jess had been spying on them earlier. "Jess," Chad began, "You sure…I mean, we don't want…"

"I ain't on my death bed, so there ain't no need for you two to be hangin' 'round me like a couple buzzards waitin' for me to kick off." Jess' mouthy sass had apparently returned with his memories, though Chad doubted that it was ever completely gone. Jess' reputation with a gun was second only to that of his snarky tongue.

"Well okay, then," Chad laughed, pretending offence. "We'll leave! Just as soon as we can!"

Jess sobered. "I'll miss you, both of you. I owe you my life, several times over."

Joe offered his hand, and Jess took it. They shook warmly as Joe said, "Texas Jack, it has been a pleasure."

Jess growled and bore down on Joe's hand.

"Hey! You're gettin' some strength back."

"I'll be along to thrash you, just as soon as I get my feet under me."

Joe retrieved his hand. It throbbed a little, for Jess' grip had indeed returned. "I'll be lookin' forward to it."

Chad held out his hand. "Easy there, Jess. I need this hand for poker and fighting."

Jess smirked. "That ain't all you use it for. Always the soft touch with the ladies, if I recall correctly."

"Your memory isn't what it used to be…OW!"

The Rangers set out the next morning. Jess sat in a chair on the porch with a cocky salute to send them off. Chad grinned and waved back. "That's the Jess I remember."

Joe wasn't sure. "You think he's goin' to be alright? You knew what he was like before all this."

The tall blond ranger waving from Jess' side gave Chad the answer to Joe's question. "I think so. He's got good folks to look after him now. Everybody needs somebody to do that."

"Like you've got me to steer you."

"And you've got me," Chad returned.

Joe raised one eyebrow. "I always felt like it was kinda one-sided, pard."

"What? When have I ever steered you wrong?"

"You're kiddin', right?"

Chad feigned outrage and spurred ahead, but stopped at the top of the hill and waited for Joe to catch up. Both Rangers hesitated and the knoll, their eyes memorizing the scene below. Slim was perched on the rail of the porch, talking with Jess. Andy was skipping about at his chores, and Jonesy was hanging up laundry.

"I'll sure miss this place, those people," Joe sighed.

Chad reluctantly turned Amigo toward Cheyenne. "Me, too. It's hard to make friends, just to have to say goodbye."

"Those two mean a lot to you, don't they, Jess?"

Jess watched the two Rangers until they were out of sight. "Yeah."

Slim recognized Jess' expression to be the perpetual mask that lately he always wore: stay out. The rancher eased to the porch floor with a sigh, intent to start the day's work.

"Slim, wait."

Slim did as bidden, reseating himself on the railing. "What is it, Jess?"

Jess' gaze remained on the hilltop, but he seemed less distant. "Let's…talk."

Slim tried not to seem too eager. "Sure, Jess. What you want to talk about?"

"I don't want to talk 'bout anythin', but I need to say it anyhow." Jess' eyes trailed slowly over to Slim's face, finding reassurance in the man's steady features. "I know I've been nothin' but a real pain and a bull-headed cuss these last few…months. You've put up with more than a man should have to. Then this"—he cast a hand over his entire length, indicating his fragile state—"happened. You fed me, cared for me. All this for a fella who ain't worth your time."

"Jess, you were worth every minute, and don't you go thinking otherwise. Those two men who just left, they see the worth in you. They proved that by what they did, bringing you back here." Slim took a deep breath before continuing. "I see the worth in you, Jess. You're my friend. Shucks, you're the only real friend I got."

Jess hedged about a moment. "You don't know what it means to me to hear you say that… But why, Slim? I'm…I'm a bad man."

"Bad? Jess, don't say that."

"You know how hard it was to come back to myself after forgettin' all the things I done? I've hurt so many people, Slim…"

"Jess, that's ridiculous. Sure, you've had to use a gun now and again. So have I. Though I regret it, I knew it was something I had to do, that I was in the right. You were protecting what you believed in, and the Jess I know would never believe in something that was wrong."

Jess stared hard at his hands. "You really believe that?"

Slim smiled gently. "As much as I believe that the sky is blue."

Jess blinked hard, and Slim could have sworn that the dark man was trying to hold back tears. However, when Jess looked up, his composure was completely intact. In fact, Slim could detect a hint of mischievousness in those electric-blue eyes. "Well, Slim, you might want to rethink that belief. Just take a look right now."

"What…" Slim cast a look over his shoulder at the sky above. Sure enough, rather than a cheerful blue, the sky was a dismal grey with a hint of white puffy clouds. "Well, even I have faults, I guess."

"If we're gonna start namin' them, how 'bout we start at your unfailin' cheery attitude. Why, it's enough to make a man go bonkers." Jess was on a roll.

Slim opened his mouth to spar back, but instead shook his head with a grin. "Good to have you back, Jess."

Jess returned the smile. "Good to be back, pard."

A chair shattered the window of the Cactus Saloon and bounced out onto the street. Amigo spooked and crashed into Buck, painfully crushing Joe's and Chad's legs together. "Ouch," Chad grimaced. "Old home-sweet-home, Laredo."

Joe matched Chad's expression with an eye-roll of his own. "Don't know how I could miss it."

They pulled rein in front of the captain's office. "Well," Chad said, taking a fortifying breath. "Here goes nothing."

They entered the office, the familiar surroundings making it seem like they had only been gone days rather than weeks.

Captain Parmalee was seated at his desk, hunched over some paperwork of some kind. He glanced up at their approach, not seeming startled to see them at all. "Hello there. Hold on a minute."

Joe and Chad shared a surprised glance. They had expected outrage, javelin-like glares, and lengthy speeches about how a Ranger was supposed to behave. This congenial greeting was not at all like that.

Parmalee finished a paper and set his pen aside. He folded his hands on top of the stack and stared at the two men, his face blank, which was more frightening than a menacing glare. When he opened his mouth, both men shrank in terror. However, what he said was completely unimagined. "Have I ever seen you before? You look slightly familiar to me."

"Ah…it's us, Cap'n, Riley and Cooper, reportin' for duty," Joe said uneasily.

A foxy smile graced Parmalee's features. "Oh, yes. I remember now. You two got lost somewhere. How nice that you managed to find your way back."

Chad could hold back no longer. "Well, it was like this, Cap'n…"

"QUIET!"

Joe and Chad jerked to attention stiffly.

Parmalee continued. "As I was saying, it truly is wonderful that you came back. We have been short on help around here. I was just saying to one of my men how hard it is to find good help these days. He should be around here somewhere, I think." He got to his feet and walked around the two terrified young men and leaned out the door. "You! Come in here!" He returned to his seat, a wily expression on his face.

A man clomped into the office. "You called, Cap'n?"

Joe and Chad whirled. "REESE!"

"YOU TWO!" Reese grabbed his friends' arms excitedly. "Where have you been?!"

"HOLD IT!" Parmalee's command cut through any catching-up. The three snapped to alertness.

"Bennett," Parmalee calmly beckoned.

"Yes, Cap'n," Reese answered while stepping forward cautiously.

"These two think they want to come back to work. What do you think? Are we shorthanded around here?"

"Ah…" Reese looked uneasily between his friends and his commanding officer. "Well, they seem like able enough fellas."

Parmalee positively beamed. "That's just what I thought! Bennett, I'll put their duties under your supervision."

"And what would that be?" Reese asked, confused.

The captain looked completely and utterly devilish as he leaned forward over his desk. "Stable duty. One. Entire. Month. Without vacation, and most definitely without pay!"

"But, Cap'n," Chad tried to say, but Joe kicked his friend's shin.

"What he means is, right away, Cap'n."

"Good," Parmalee purred. "Now get to it!"

"Why did we want to come back here again?" Chad asked Joe as the Southerner hauled out another wheelbarrow load from the stables.

Joe forked out some fresh hay into a stall. "Pride of the Rangers, Chad…whatever that is."

"Hey," Reese interrupted as he entered the building. "Got a letter for you guys. All the way from Wyoming."

Joe threw down his pitch fork, snatching the letter out of Reese's hand. "It's from Jess!"

Chad eagerly peered over Joe's shoulder. "Well, open it!"

Joe did just that and began to read aloud, stumbling over Jess' difficult handwriting.

Chad and Joe, howdy from Laramie.

Things are goin real good since you went back to Texas. I'm almost back to my awnry self, so Slim's been tellin me. He finely let me outta the house yesterday long enuf to go see my horse. Trav was gettin real skinny. Andy says that he wouldn't hardly eat nothin while I was away. Gess we look bout the same right now. It wouldn't take a very strong wind to blow the 2 of us over. He was real glad to see me tho. I'm hopin he'll get back on his feed real soon, same as me.

I hope this letter finds you 2 Rangers back in Laredo, workin for the law. You fellas seem like a good team at keepin bad uns like me in line. Keep up the good work.

Jess Harper (not Texas Jack. Ever)

PS: Andy says he reckons to join up with you fellas and become a Ranger when he's bigger, so long as I ride along with him. Ha ha, I said.

Chad grinned broadly. "That Jess, sure glad to hear he's doing better!" He squinted at Jess' nearly illegible script. "But I don't know how you read that."

Joe glared. "Some of us just didn't have the schoolin' like you did, Chad. Now hush up, there's another letter here."

Dear Chad and Joe,

Jess doesn't know I'm sneaking in this note, but I just had to write a quick thank you. Words cannot express how grateful I am to the both of you for helping Jess find his way back. He went through too much, but he's tough and starting to mend. Jess of course says that he is fine, but he would say that if he had no blood left in his body and two broken legs. Though he was pretty grumpy those first couple days after you left, he has gotten back to his usual sassy mood in no time at all; a quick visit from his friend Trampas sped up his recovery. They are two of a kind. Though I should be ashamed for saying this, I almost miss those first days of silence. Jonesy has forgotten his pity for Jess and they are back to getting into spats, but I think deep down he really likes that Texas twister we've got for a friend.

I truly hope that your captain has accepted you back into the Rangers. If he has not, I would be happy to write character references for you, even though they probably wouldn't do much good. I'm sure there are some towns up here in Wyoming that could use good lawmen such as yourselves. Jess would love having you closer, as would Andy and I.

Thank you again,

Slim Sherman

Both Rangers sighed and let the letters' words sink in. "This is it," Joe said finally.

"What is?" Chad inquired.

"This is the pride of the Rangers…doin' stuff like this."

Chad smiled softly and genuinely and gripped Joe's large shoulder. "You hit the nail on the head, pard."

"You two," a voice snickered.

"The two friends' broke their moment with an annoyed look at their other partner. "What is it, Reese?" Chad demanded.

"You guys, gettin' all sentimental." He covered his mouth with his hand to hold in the mirth.

"Well, at least we got friends," Joe growled. "All you got is the Cap'n."

"Yeah, Reese," Chad commented. "We're not pards anymore since we're off duty."

Reese's mouth dropped open. "You mean to tell me that we're only pards when we're workin'?"

"That's what partners means, isn't it, Joe?"

Joe nodded seriously. "Yep, that's what it means, Chad."

"Why you…," Reese sputtered.

Chad and Joe both burst into chuckles, not able to hold in their mirth at Reese's dejected countenance.

"YOU TWO!" Reese roared as he realized that he was being put on. He stalked out of the building shouting, "Get back to work!"

The Rangers went back at it, but somehow, it wasn't as bad.

Thanks to everyone who read this story and left reviews! It means so much! I wrote this story over a year ago and had it on a different site, but it was very anonymous so I never got much feedback. It is so wonderful to see that people are actually reading my stuff!

I have a new Laramie story in the works, so stay tuned! It will be more like an "unaired episode." This story is about half completed. I like to finish my stories before publishing them, because sometimes I have to go back and change parts of the plot line. Here is a quick little synopsis:

Jess has women trouble! When an angry father sends away the woman Jess thinks he's in love with, Jess chases after her. Little does he realize that one of his worst fears will be realized: Gettin' married, or bein' left afoot...but which fear will it be?