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Tara Bodeker
Southern Literature
Dr. Chappel
November 16, 1997
Jesse and the Boys
"Keep that mule quiet, will ya'? Them boys there are the James brothers
and their gang," Walker whispered from the ground, peering through
the woods to the clearing beyond.
Billy tied Suzy's reins to a nearby branch and joined his cousin, crawling
on his belly to the edge of the forest where he could see and hear ten
or so men hollering and riding horses around a clump of trees that grew
next to the rushing bayou. They looked like a bunch of U.S. Marshals on
holiday.
"No, they ain't," Billy whispered back, remembering Walker's
assertion.
"Are, so. My pa says they come down here to the bayou to hide out
in the swamp and race their horses like they're doin' now."
Billy wasn't convinced, "Why would a bunch of outlaws want to hang
around here with the mosquitoes and the snakes? Besides, everyone knows
the James's hide out in Missouri, and what does your pa know anyway?"
"More than yours, I reckon."
Walker inched closer to the clearing, all the time staring at the commotion.
Billy kept further back and surveyed the area. The clump of trees that
the riders were galloping around was in an odd place, as if it was a small
island in the muddy field, cut off from the damp forest where the boys
hid. Someone must have made the clearing, Billy thought. They chopped up
and plowed up a bit of the swampy forest, leaving a stand of trees in the
middle, and then they moved on. Probably decided they didn't want to live
so close to the bayou, he mused. Even now, he could hear the rushing water
on the other side of the clearing, and he recalled the cold, dark water
that he had seen plenty of times before. Walker said there were alligators
in it. Billy shivered and looked at the sun. There was still enough daylight
left to reach home before dark, if they hurried.
But Walker kept still, his gaze fixed on the men. After several moments
he seemed to remember BilIy's presence.
"Well, they gotta' rest like everybody else," he reasoned, as
if he had been giving the matter his most careful consideration, "and
I don't see no reason why they can't take a break from robbin' banks to
relax here in Arkansas."
Billy looked at him, "I don't care if they are the James boys or not,
I say we get on home. The racket they're makin' is spookin' Suzy, and Pa
needs that money by tonight."
Walker moved back reluctantly, "Alright, then, Billy, but we may never
see 'em again."
"That's fine by me," Billy shot back, still talking in low tones
as they inched back to their ride, "'cause if they are outlaws, like
you say, I don't want nothin' to do with them. Come on, let's get clear
of this swamp, or it'll be midnight before we reach Windy Creek, and Pa's
countin' on us."
Billy untied Suzy and Walker helped him jump on. Then Billy supported Walker
as he climbed on behind his cousin. Being young and small, getting on the
mule could be a chore, and they weren't used to riding double, but they
were the same age and practically brothers.
"I sure miss Betsy," Walker sighed behind Billy, "I don't
see why we had to give up our horse instead of your stupid mule."
"'Cause your horse was on her last legs, that's why, and we gotta'
have one working animal on the place, don't we?" Billy gripped the
reins and guided Suzy through the woods towards home, maneuvering as quickly
as he could around tree branches, mud, and dense foliage. Walker wrapped
one arm around Billy and used the other to ward off insects. They had not
gone more than a hundred yards when a figure stepped out from behind a
cypress tree and stood in their path. It was a young, lanky man in nice,
but soiled clothing, and in his left hand dangled a rifle. He looked at
the boys, rubbing his dark stubble before he spit on the ground.
"What are you boys doin' way out here?" he asked soberly.
Billy thought about turning Suzy around and making a dash for it. He didn't
hear or see a horse nearby, but he knew that the man probably had a ride
somewhere close. If the man wasn't holding a gun, he'd do it, but as it
was, he just sat there and waited. Walker kept silent with his head cocked
to the side so that he could stare around his friend; Billy could feel
his breath on the side of his neck, quick and warm.
The man waited a moment. Then he shifted the gun and pointed it at the
cousins, "I asked you boys a question."
Walker spoke up over Billy's shoulder, "We're out here on business,
sir."
"Business, huh?" he grinned, "What kind of business?"
Billy elbowed his cousin, "We're just out here huntin' is all. I reckon
'business' is the wrong word."
"Are you Jesse James?" Walker blurted. Billy elbowed him again,
but the man just widened his grin.
"Who's askin'?"
Walker, ignoring Billy's protests, answered in a rush, "I'm Walker,
and this here's Billy my cousin, and we're just on our way home, sir."
"That so? You boys been snoopin' around here?" The man lowered
the gun and edged closer to take Suzy's bridle.
"No, mister," Billy answered gravely, "We're just mindin'
our own business and headin' home."
The man seemed to be considering this answer when his eyes fell on the
small pouch tied around Billy's waist.
"What's in the bag, boy?" he asked, but he was already reaching
for it. When Billy resisted, the man lifted the gun again, but then he
paused and grinned. He looked at Walker, "So your interested in Jesse
James, huh? Well, how'd you like to meet him?"
"We just want to get home, mister," Billy answered hurriedly,
"We ain't lookin' for no trouble."
"Well, boy, sometimes trouble finds you when you ain't lookin' for
it. Follow me." The man kept his hold on the leather straps and led
them to a horse dozing behind some tall brush. He roused the animal and
mounted him. Then he held out his hand, "Toss me those reins, boy."
Billy did so and held Suzy's mane as the man led them through the wet woods
towards the clearing.
Billy turned his head back and whispered harshly to Walker, "Now
you've done it, stupid. They'll take our money and kill us for sure."
"Shoot, Billy. We're gonna' meet Jesse James, and he ain't gonna'
take our money. Don't you ever listen? He helps poor folks like
us."
"No, he don't. You don't know nothin'. He's an outlaw, a thief and
a murderer."
"You just wait and see, Billy. He ain't all bad."
Billy didn't reply as they rode in silence to the clearing. Billy was surprised
when they came upon it so suddenly, but then he realized that the noise
had died down. Three or four men were walking horses around the clump of
trees while the rest tended to a fire, some kind of food, or their guns.
Apparently the races were over, and it was time for supper. Billy frowned
at himself when he felt his stomach growl. The men looked up and watched
as they were led to the circle sitting around the fire. Most of the men
were bearded and decently dressed, but dirty and sweaty from all of the
heavy riding. Billy noticed that they didn't look pleased at their arrival.
The lookout dismounted and instructed the boys to do the same. Another
man took the horse and Suzy from him and led them away. Billy stood and
watched as Suzy was tied to a line beside a thoroughbred.
"Over here," their guide said, and he moved to stand in front
of another young man who was sitting on a log beside the fire. He looked
up at the boys and then at his lookout.
"Who have you got here, Cole?" he asked, holding a tin of steaming
liquid and poking a stick at the fire.
"I found these two stragglers roamin' through the woods. That's Billy
and this is.... What's your name again, boy?"
"Walker, sir," the boy answered, staring at the young man with
the thin moustache and pale colored eyes. A long, brown leather coat was
draped over the log beside him.
"Yeah, Walker," Cole continued, "I don't know what they're
business is, but I bet it has somethin' to do with that there pouch, and
from what they told me, I gather that they've been doin' a little spyin'
from the woods there. This here Walker seems keen on meetin' you."
"Does he now," the man stated rather than asked. The boys
stared at him as he stared back, he seemed to be reflecting on something,
but not like Cole had done earlier. There was something about his eyes,
somethin' familiar, or sad maybe, Billy couldn't tell which, but he knew
then that he and Walker were standing before a leader. But a leader of
a bunch of outlaws, Billy told himself. Everyone waited until he spoke
again.
"Well, boy," he addressed Walker, "You can call me Jesse
James, but I guess you already figured that much out. That's Cole Younger,
and the man beside me here is my brother Frank, and if you want to know
the rest of us, all you have to do is ask. Now that you know who we are,
why don't you tell us what you boys are doin'. And what's in that bag you
got there?"
Walker took on a serious air and began, "Well, Mr. James, sir, my
cousin and I just came from Lyndale and were on our way home when we ran
into Mr. ah..."
"Younger," Cole said.
"Yeah, Mr. Younger," he continued, glancing at Billy who stared
at him coldly. Walker ignored his cousin and went on, "and as for
the bag, it's just somethin' we were sent to fetch for my uncle."
"I see," Jesse said, "and what would that be?"
"Well," Walker looked at Billy.
"Might as well go on, since you done told them so much already,"
Billy shrugged.
"Well," Walker went on, "The bag is full of money we got
for sellin' a horse in Lyndale. We had to auction her off for money to
help pay off my uncle's loan. See, he needs the money by midnight."
"Tonight?" Jesse asked.
"Yes, sir. Tonight."
"And where do you boys live? Windy Creek?" Jesse addressed this
question to Billy, but the boy just glared at him.
Walker jumped in, "Yes, sir. Our families live together on a farm
there."
Jesse stood up and held out his hand, "Let me see that pouch, boy."
When Billy didn't move, Cole untied it from his belt and handed it to Jesse
who opened the bag and counted out thirty dollars. He turned to Walker,
"Is this all your uncle owes?"
Walker looked at the money wadded in the dirty hand, "Nah, but
that's all we got. You're not gonna' keep our money, are you, Mr. James,
sir?"
"Course he is," Billy broke in, "That's what he does, he
steals folks' money." Billy was fed up with Walker's trust in these
outlaws, and since he figured he was good as dead anyway, he wasn't afraid.
Cole took a step toward Billy but Jesse grabbed his arm and shook his head.
"Your brother don't seem to share your high opinion of me," he
said to Walker.
"He ain't my brother, sir, and he just likes to talk big. He didn't
mean no disrespect. I think you have just about the best kind of
life a man can have."
Billy heard a few men snicker and murmur to each other at this, but Jesse
just studied Walker. "Is that so?" the outlaw asked the young
boy, "Look around, kid, you sure this is what you want?"
Billy looked around. The air hummed with the noise of insects and the constant
rushing of the creek. The men were all gathered around the boys now, forming
an irregular circle. They suddenly seemed tired and older than they probably
were. For some reason that Billy did not understand, he thought of his
home, the old wooden house with the peeling paint. Inside his mother was
probably sweating over a stove and trying to quiet the younger children,
and he could hear his uncle calling for his pipe, with his legs propped
up on the porch railing where his father sat and played the harmonica.
Strains of "Precious Memories" swept across the fields, seeping
through the swampy woods to the clearing where he stood. Billy woke from
his reverie at the sound of Walker's voice.
"Well, you're free, sir. You don't got nobody tellin' you what to
do."
Frank laughed suddenly at this, "I reckon he's right about that, Jesse."
Jesse chuckled a little as the laughter spread across the group; everyone
joined in except Billy, who kept his eyes on the money in Jesse's hand.
Jesse caught him staring and addressed the boy as soon as the laughter
died down, "I used to see the world like you, son, in black and white,
always could tell between what was right and what wasn't, but you're gonna'
find that things ain't always that simple." He put the money back
in the pouch, "Bring me my saddlebag will ya', Harper?"
One of the courser men left the group momentarily and fetched a leather
bag. He tossed it to Jesse, who promptly unlatched a side pocket and shook
out bunches of bills and bank notes. The boys stared at the money, they
had never seen so much cash in all their lives.
"I don't need your money, Billy," Jesse said to the boy, "and
I don't take money from poor folks who are tryin' to pay off a debt."
He picked up a handfulll of neatly bound bills and held it out for Billy.
"Here, son, you take this money to your pa and pay off his loan with
it."
Walker whispered hoarsely, "But that's too much." He offered
to accept the bills, but Jesse fixed his gaze on Billy, so that Walker
pulled his hand back.
"It's stolen," Billy said quietly, "We won't have it."
"It ain't stolen," James said firmly, "It belongs to you
and me and every other hardworkin' Southerner robbed by the Yankees."
Billy looked at the printed paper, considering, "My pa and Uncle Riley
don't accept nobody's charity. We can always get an extension on the loan,
or work it off. We can manage without your help."
Jesse didn't move, "Then just tell your pa or uncle or whoever else
asks that Jesse James made you take this money."
Billy shifted his eyes to the face of Jesse James, the famous outlaw, "I
reckon that would be lyin', sir."
A sparkle flashed in Jesse's eyes and he grinned at Billy, "Yeah,
I reckon it would be, wouldn't it?" Before Billy even realized that
Jesse had moved his free hand, he felt the barrel of the outlaw's revolver
against his chest. "Now you can say that I made you take it,"
Jesse whispered.
Billy hesitated and heard the hammer click. Beside him Walker gasped, "Go
on, Billy, take it. Take it."
Billy locked his eyes with Jesse's, searching for something there,
but the outlaw expressed no emotion. All he could see in the pale blue
orbs were his own miniature reflections, copies of himself Slowly and deliberately,
he lifted his arm and opened his hand palm up. Jesse pushed the hammer
back and lowered the gun, placing the money in Billy's waiting hand. Then
he picked Billy's pouch off the ground and handed that to him also. No
one spoke as the boy put Jesse's money in the bag with the rest.
"Now you get on home," Jesse said, "Cole here will help
you back on your ride. Here, take some of this meat with you. You can eat
it on the way."
Walker accepted his share eagerly, "Thanks a bunch, Mr. James, sir.
We won't forget this, will we, Billy?"
"You just start back home before it gets any later," Jesse answered,
"and don't lose that money before you get there."
"We won't, sir. Come on, Billy," Walker motioned to his cousin,
"we can still make it back to Windy Creek before dark, if we hurry."
Billy turned to go with his cousin. Jesse James watched as his own cousin
loaded the boys, money, food, and all on the mule. Billy took the reins
from Cole and started to guide Suzy away, but suddenly he stopped and turned
to look at Jesse.
"Wait, I want to know somethin', Mr. James."
"What is it, son," the older man called.
"Is this," he gestured at the isolated clearing, full of rugged
men and horses, "is this what you want?
Jesse looked around at the clearing, at his men, at his family. Then he
looked at Billy, hard and long, "Get on back home, son," he said,
"Get on back home."
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