“Jessica Marie Starr, give me the gun now or I will put you on the next train that’s headed east!” Jessie stood against the door frame in her aunt’s house, with her right hand resting on the Colt pistol that set in the holster around her waist and took the brunt of her aunt’s fury without ever batting a eyelash. Once again she got caught helping a Mexican kid, Jose Aguilar steal guns from the wagon trains coming into town. “So what?” Jessie thought. He was paying her $10 to help him and she needed all the money she could get since her aunt refused to give her any. “Alright Jessica, you win. I’m going to the train station right now to buy you a ticket. Go up stairs and pack your bags, NOW!” Jessie’s aunt told her and stalked back into her setting room. It was time to leave this hell hole, no more Kansas City where the people looked down their noses at her. She’d pack her bags alright, and she’d leave just like her aunt wanted, only she wasn’t going east on a train, she was going west on a horse. Jessie walked up the huge stair case and went to her room. The room was dark, not only from the heavy curtains, but also from the dark wood walls. She stopped in front of the mirror above the dresser and looked at herself in the reflection. She looked like her mom, dark eyes and hair. She thought about the day 3 years ago when her father had hauled her to the train station, put her on it and never said goodbye. If they didn’t care, then she didn’t ether. She had acquired 3 guns and 4 knives from Jose and had stolen a horse from a dirty rancher who she didn’t like. Jessie dug around under her bed and found a plain leather bag that she would take with her. She stuffed a couple pairs of pants and 3 shirts into the bag, along with a couple wild rags and some socks. Her black hat and leather coat hung by the door and her gloves were lying on the bed. Now all she needed was darkness to fall. Her horse would be in the barn and could be caught easily. Jessie hid her bag back under her bed and went on packing her other bags as if she was getting on the train in the morning. The clock read 7:25pm, a couple more hours and she would be able to leave. Anita the maid knocked on her door at 8:00 and asked “Miss Jessie, your aunt sent me up to give you this letter and to tell you that supper is ready” she said, handing the small letter to her. “No ma’am, I’m not feeling too well, to I think I’ll go to bed early.” Jessie said and Anita smiled and left. Jessie didn’t care about the letter, it wasn’t going to stop her from leaving. She set on the bed and studied the toes of her boots. They probably wouldn’t last another year, but she’d wear them till they were completely worn through. Her spurs still had a lot of good days left in them though. And her horse Jasper was only 4 years old so he wouldn’t mind the long ride to Dodge City. Minutes ticked by slowly, she would leave at midnight, but it was only 9:30. 10:00 rolled around and all the lights in the house were put out. The town was quiet except for the noisy saloons on the west side of town. 10:30 came, only an hour and a half to go. Then came 11:00, one hour left. 11:30, 30 more minutes. Finally midnight came, the ringing clock bells announced Jessie’s freedom. She put her leather jacket and hat on, tucked gloves in her belt and picked her bag up. Her 4 pistols were in her gun belt and her knives were hidden in her boots tops and pockets. Slipping down the stair case, she walked on tip-toes to keep the heels on her boots from banging on the wooden floor. She went through the kitchen and out the back door towards the barn. Jasper stood in the barn, half asleep. Jessie set her bag down inside of the tack room door and got Jasper’s head stall and saddle out, catching and saddling him took only a few minutes. She tied her bag on behind her saddle and swung up on the big sorrel horse that was gonna carry her away from here at a high rate of speed. Going behind the Evan’s house would be the best and the quietest way out. She kept Jasper at a fast walk while weaving in between barns and little shacks, as she headed west. Coggburn’s saloon was the last building she had to pass. Several drunk cowboys leaned against the hitching post in front, but they were thankfully too drunk to notice Jessie as she rode out of town. The hills that surrounded the city were covered in tall grass and bushy trees. The quicker she got over the hills, the better. She still had to clear Johnson’s ranch before morning or they’d see her for sure. Nobody had ever actually caught her helping Jose, but there had been plenty people around town saying that she was helping him. And if they saw her leaving, they'd think she was running. They could think whatever they wanted to, she wouldn’t every live in that town again anyways. She was 30 minutes into the ride when she cleared the west side of Johnson’s place. After settling into an easy lope, Jessie thought about where she was going, she’d probably ride into Great Bend tomorrow afternoon. She’d stay there a night if it looked safe, and gather up some supplies and maybe even buy a pack horse. Dodge City would be surprised when she rode in. She was a fare hand at poker, and could win enough money to pay her way down to Old Mexico. Until she could get down there, she’d just drift between the winds. The thought of settling down never crossed her mind, she’d just as soon stay free. As she rode through the night towards Great Bend, she thought about her family. The family that loved her until she began to turn rebellious, then they sent her around to any family member that would take her. She had never felt wanted or loved after that. So she would just keep on riding, keep on living and keep on dreaming. Into the night she rode south-west towards Great Bend. The September night was cool, but not cold and the sky was dotted with stars and the full moon shed a low light across the land. Somewhere in the hills to the north, a lone coyote howled. Jessie knew how he felt, the sad but free life. Morning came slowly, the red sky revealed black clouds in the west, a sure sign of rain. She had about another 2 hours till she got till Great Bend, if she could beat the rain, she’d be lucky. The sun climbed into the sky as Jessie got closer and closer to Great Bend. The clouds finally reached completely across the sky as Jessie rode up to the top of the hill that over looked Great Bend. The town hadn't changed much since the last time she had been here, the only changes were a few new buildings and houses. The rain started instantly, causing Jessie to kick Jasper into a gallop.
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