PROMISES AND DREAMS

By tk421beth

Chapter I New Year's Eve and Birthday Celebration

I recently updated this first chapter as of 12/28/05…I had the year wrong inchapters I, IV, VII, VIII and X! If you already read and reviewed...you don't need to read this again! If you haven't...welcome! Please remember to review! Thanks so much!

I, in no way, own Young Guns, or Young Guns II. I feel that I should, though! Especially Billy!

December 31, 1877

Dear Diary,

Father has finally decided to let me go to the New Year's Eve celebration tonight! It took both Doc and Dick to persuade him to let me go. After all, my birthday is tomorrow, I will be sixteen years old! I am so excited! Father bought me a gorgeous green dress…I'm not so sure about the dress, but the party…I cannot wait!

Lately, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Dolan have been giving Father more problems, and I feel afraid, like he, or his men, are going to do something to Father. When they come to our home, or to the store, I feel frightened. I feel fortunate to have the 'Regulators' around, protecting us, the store, our home, and so on. Father just tells me that everything will be all right. I am not so sure.

Jay McCloskey just started working for Father as a Regulator a few days ago and I wonder why Father hired him! McCloskey has worked for Mr. Murphy in the recent past and I don't trust him.

The other new Regulator, who just joined us a few days before McCloskey, William Bonney, or Billy, seems friendly enough, even though Dick told me to stay away from him. He says that Billy had killed a man. Dick can be very dramatic sometimes! Billy is very nice to me, and makes me laugh. How can he be a killer? Billy also speaks fluent Spanish, which we speak most of the time.

I hear Father calling me! I will write more tomorrow about the New Year's Eve Party!

"Jessica! Let's set off!" I heard Father shout, as I close my diary, and glance in the mirror, checking my appearance. My long brown hair was pinned up on top of my head, not hanging down loose at it usually is. I looked different, older, I thought. I peered into the mirror again, wondering if I looked a fool. I hardly wear dresses at all, I thought, making a silly face at my reflection, as I turned left and right, checking my appearance. I slowly found myself smiling, thinking that maybe I did look okay. I quickly ran down the hall, and stood on top of the stairs, since Father was still continuing to shout for me to make my appearance. I look down, and saw Father and all the Regulators waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. They were all clean and dressed up, and looked good. Father was busy checking his watch. "Jessica's late again," He sighed. "She's just like her Mother…never on time! Damnation! Jess-!" Father started to yell my name again, but upon seeing me, abruptly stopped, as I slowly walked down the stairs. I suddenly halted halfway down, feeling my face redden, as everyone was staring at me, all with dumbfounded expressions. Should I be flattered or mad? I notice all of them glance at the portrait behind me, of my Mother, dressed in the most elegant gown I have ever seen, looking more beautiful than any other woman I have ever met. I glimpse at the painting, and then back at Father and all the Regulators. My mouth goes dry, as they all take off their hats, all at the same time! What the heck was going on here? I looked at Billy, who was standing next to Father. He had a huge grin on his face, his blue eyes twinkling in mischief. I felt my face go red again, much to my chagrin.

"How handsome you all look!" I greeted them all. "Now, how do I look?" I asked, twirling around, showing off my new dress. They all still looked flabbergasted, and I almost laughed out loud. The expressions on their faces were priceless! With the household tasks, and working at the store, it was just easier for me to wear trousers, shirt and boots.

Father stared for a moment, his mouth still open in surprise. "You look beautiful, Jessica, just like your Mother." He told me. "That dress brings out the color of your eyes."

"Thank you, Father." I could feel my face flush again. Father thought I looked like Mother? Impossible! Mother was so beautiful!

"She's actually wearing a dress!" I heard Steve cackle. "Jessie's really a girl!"

I shot Steve a look of annoyance, my hands balled up in fists. "Shut up, you inbred, dim-witted-"

"That's enough, Jessica!" Father cut me off. "Let's go to the party!"

The party was already in full swing when we arrived. At first, I did not let Father out of sight, as I listened to the women gossiping about everybody and all that was happening in town. All they wanted to do was to get married and have children. I shuddered at the thought! In two more years, I will be eighteen…considered an old maid by then! I, in no way, wanted to wed or bare children. My plan was to one day take over Father's business. I already did the bookkeeping and inventory for him. Father knew of my dreams of running his store and ranch, and was pleased about it. He didn't seem in any hurry to marry me off, thank God!

I stood alone, preferring to watch everyone in town talk, drink, laugh and dance. Father was speaking with Alex McSween and his wife, and I could see Steve, Charlie and McCloskey helping themselves to several drinks. I am having a good time, even though I was by myself. The food was outstanding, the music excellent. Everyone was in good spirits and having a fantastic time!

"Want to dance?" Billy's voice interrupted my thoughts. He was standing in front of me, wearing his new suit, and that silly grin on his face. His hand was out to receive mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dick stare angrily at Billy.

"I don't know..." I started to say, unsure of myself.

"You can trust me, Jessie!" Billy said, gently taking my hand, and leading me towards the other couples that were dancing. I suddenly felt nervous, and my stomach felt like it was doing flip-flops as we began to dance. Billy indeed was a very good dancer! I soon was smiling, and then laughing at Billy's jokes and antics. I could see Dick talking to Doc, and pointing at Billy and I. Dick seemed upset, as he glared at us, while I could see Doc chuckling and grinning.

"Dick treats you like you're his younger sister." Billy pointed out. "That, or and old mother hen!" He laughed.

"I've known Dick since I was a child. He means well."

We danced for a few more minutes, until Dick came up and asked Billy if he could cut in. Billy let Dick take me.

"What's this all about?" I asked as innocently as I could, as Dick and I began to dance. I could see Billy join Charlie, McCloskey and Steve for a drink.

"I told you to stay away from him, Jessica." Dick said with a sour expression on his face. His arms went around my waist, as if protecting me. Protecting me from Billy?

"So?" I answered. "I'm not doing anything wrong." What the hell was this about? "It was just a dance!"

"I don't care, Jessica." Dick looked down at me. "You better listen to me. Stay away from Billy." He warned.

"You are not my Father!" I spat. "I don't have to listen to you." I pushed him away from me, and promptly left the dancing area.

A few seconds later, Dick caught me by my upper arm, stopping me and forcing me to look up at him. "You indeed, have to listen to me, Jessica." Dick pointed out. "I'm the foreman of the Regulators, and my major concern is for your welfare. I don't want to see you get hurt."

I felt myself calm down. I knew Dick worried about me. He truly is the older brother that I never had. "I'm not going to get hurt, Dick. Would you quit worrying?"

"All right, Jessica." He let go of my arm. "I'll trust you."

The next morning, we were heading back to the house. I was seated next to Father in the buckboard, my head resting on his shoulder. I had been up all night, dancing with Father and all the Regulators. We all had a really good time. I would never forget it.

"Did you have a good time?" Father asked me.

"I had the best time!" I told him, yawning. "But I'm so tired! I want to go to bed!"

Father laughed. "Here, is this for you" Father said, handing me a small box. I opened it, to see a lovely silver ring. It was a simple band, the kind that I have wanted for some time. 'Happy 16, JMT, 01/01/78', was written on the outside of the ring.

"Oh, Father!" I gasped, placing the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. "It's beautiful! Thank you!" I hugged him tight.

Father laughed as he returned my hug. "I wanted to be the first gentleman to present you with a ring." He told me. "I hope you have a very happy sixteenth birthday!"

"I will!"

A flock of wild turkeys suddenly few out from a nearby shrub, and started flying south. The Regulators looked at each other, and started shouting excitedly, racing their horses towards the birds, with their guns out. Turkey does taste good!

Billy was riding next to us, his eyes lit up, smiling. "Jessie? Ride with me?" He asked me.

I looked at Father, who was smiling at me. "You can go, Jessica. Be careful!" He told Billy, as I took Billy's hand, and seated myself in front of him. Billy handed me one of his guns, and we took off towards the direction of the other Regulators.

As we rode away, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something was wrong…very…wrong. I looked over at Father, who was alone in the buckboard. I could see Murphy's men surround him. Where the hell did they come from? "No…FATHER!" I shouted, making Billy stop the horse. He too, looked over at my Father. Father was now standing up, attempting to talk to Murphy's men.

Murphy's men simply raised their guns. Father looked at me, with a small smile on his face. There was nothing he could do! Murphy's men started to shoot! Father only stood for a moment, and then fell over backwards on the ground, dead.

"NO! NO! NO!" I was shouting, as I slipped off of Billy's horse. Running as fast as I could in my dress, I headed towards Murphy's men, who were still there. Tears blurred my vision, as I raised the gun in my hand, and started shooting.

I could hear the Regulators shouting my name, but I did not pay any attention. Through the tears, I see that Murphy's men are racing towards me, with their guns drawn, aiming to shoot. Nothing mattered, I thought, as I ran on, still shooting my gun. Billy rode up next to me and suddenly caught me by my waist, and hauled me up on his horse.

Without a word, we rode off with the other Regulators. We rode what seemed like hours, until we felt Murphy's men were no longer following us.

Billy helped me off his horse. "Jessie?" He said, looking at me. "Jessie! Are you all right?" He looked alarmed.

I didn't say anything. My eyes blurred, and I felt weak. I welcomed Billy's hold as I blacked out in his arms.