First Name Jesse, Last Name James

Battlefields & Alliances

The town of Lawrence was as dusty as Kearney. The trip from Missouri to Kansas had taken a little over a day. I had arrived early the next morning and knew I had to move fast. The Quantrill weren't known to wait around for anything. I stepped into the nearest tavern and sat myself down at the bar.  The bartender sat down a crystal mug and filled it. "What's your business here young man?" I swigged down half of the mugs contents before answering.

"I’m looking for my brother; Frank James?" The bartender shook his head,

"Never heard of the fella." I glanced around the tavern, it was fairly empty.

"Business slow?" I asked while sipping my drink.

"Can you blame 'em with those raiders so close by? Everyone’s holding up in their houses waiting for them to mosey on along." So they were still here, I rubbed my forefinger and thumb together.

"Best to stay away from that son, Anderson is more likely to shoot ya than to welcome ya with open arms." I gulped the rest of the cool liquid down and paid what I owed. Nodding thanks to the bartender I went looking for the closest inn. I figured it was smarter to wait for one of 'em to come into town and ask about Frank then.

     I hadn't even unlocked my hotel room when I heard the screams. I raced to the closet window box. They came in fast with a cloud of dust like damned ghosts. Horses snarled with eyes filled with craze.  Their riders drove them forward with ferocity and equal craze.

They were a tumultuous horde on a rampage. They were the Quantrill raiders.  I pushed myself off the sill and ran towards the street. They busted through people’s homes and dragged out women and children. They badgered the men, raped the women and slaughtered the children.

Golden sparks ignited from the tavern where I was only moments ago.  The bartender ran from his establishment with a red face. He didn't even make it off his own porch before he was shot dead. I shook my head to clear my vision. Above the deafening noise I heard someone crying; a child. I ran across the street to where the cries were coming from. A little boy sat huddled behind a pile of crates in a corner. He immediately quiets down as soon as he sees me. His face takes on a frozen expression.

"Where are your parent’s boy?" I yelled over the screams and curses.  I followed his gaze to a bloodied heap that must have been people at some point. The town's people's blood streaked the streets. Men, women and children lay dead and broken on sidewalks.  I grabbed the boy from underneath his armpits and hoisted him from his hiding spot. 

One of the raiders spotted us in an instant and charged his horse.  The horse frothed at the mouth as he was launched forward. Grabbing the child by the collar of his shirt, I tossed him out of the damage path of the raider. I waited for the gunshot, the blood, my death, but it didn't come. I hear the horse whining and I unscrew my closed eyelids.

The raider had fallen off his horse. After a closer inspection I see a familiar red blooming on his chest. I turn in the direction of where the shot came from. My eyes widen and pulse quickens at the sight. Frank looms over me atop his horse, gun poised. His face grows red and angry,

"For the love of God Jess!" He shakes his head and pointed to the dead raider.

"Grab his hat and gun Jess, and get your ass on that horse." For a battlefield filled with slaughtered women and children my brother looked oddly bored. Have I come too late?

"I'm not here for a scolding; I'm here to bring you home." He sighs heavily,

"We don't have time for this, just get on the horse and come with me!" I know he's right, the longer we stand here the more likely we'll catch attention from another raider. I grab the pistol and hat off the corpse and approach the black stallion that only seconds ago, tried to run me over. I barely have my leg in the stirrup when I feel a tug on my coat. The little boy looks up at me, eyes wide, but I can't help feel they look dull. I decide in a split second, I grab the boy and hoist him up into the saddle. Getting up behind him I take control of the reins.

"Are you crazy Jesse? You can't bring that kid into the camp! They'll probably kill him on sight. I'm already risking a lot to save your ass." I point the stallion in the direction the other raiders are retreating in now. I look at my brother with a steely expression that makes his face go awry.

"When you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain." I tell him. His jaw relaxes and nods. We ride out together through the open pass; to Quantrill's territory. After travelling for some time we reach the camp. My face is a cool facade on the outside. I look to each raider we pass, ready for one to call me out and put a bullet in my brain. I get off the horse first and help the little boy down. Frank and I tie up our horses to the post. He tells me to wait here and keep my head down as he goes off to find Anderson. I kneel down in front of the boy and look him head on.

"What’s your name?" He doesn't blink,

"Arthur, sir." His voice sounded scratchy, like he ain't used to using it.

"You scared Arthur?" He gives his head a firm shake,

"No sir, I ain't scared." I look at him carefully.

"You're a fool not to be scared. Are you a fool Arthur?" He considers my question, then nods with assurance,

"Yes sir, I am a fool. Are you a fool, sir?" I smile carefully,

"Yes Arthur, I am the fool of fools." I hear Frank’s boots and stand up. He is followed by a guerrilla of a man, which I suspect is Bill Anderson. He crosses his arms and assesses me.

"So you’re the one who bested Paul?" He asks eyeing the gun I took from the dead raider. I nod and we stand in silence for a few moments. The corner of his mouth turns up as he smirks at me.

"I like your eyes son. They seem to speak for you, better than any long ass speech." He holds out his hand and I take it without hesitation. 

"Welcome to the Quantrill." His handshake speaks volumes. It’s almost as if I tied a noose around my own neck, yet I can’t jump till he says so. He steps back and eyes Arthur. I speak before anyone else does.

"He's a stable boy I brought with me. I figured a monkey can tie a knot." Bill's laugh booms through the camp catching everyone’s attention.

"Alright, Monkey tend to the horses. No slacking in my camp, ya hear?" Arthur nods and looks at the ground. Bill continues to laugh as he heads back to his own tent. I look at Frank who looks relieved. I guess we passed the Anderson test. I tell Arthur to go tend to the horses while I talk to Frank.

"I didn't want to become a raider, Frank."

"It was the only way to save your ass back there, Jesse."

"You could have left me."

"I wasn't about to watch my little brother get slaughtered!"

"You don't know what would have happened."

"God damn, Jesse! Why can't you just say thank you and shut up!"

"So now you want me to lie. This alternative isn't any better than death." He raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I'm here to bring you home Frank."

"Yes, you've said that Jesse, but I can't go home." We stared at each other.

"I'm going to guess Bill Anderson doesn't take resignation well." He nods looking exasperated.

"He's like a wild dog, the longer he chews on a bone the sharper his teeth get." If that was true then that didn't give me much of a choice. I promised Ma I'd bring Frank home and bring him home is what I am going to do. Even if that entails running with that wild dog to bring him back. But one thing about wild dogs taunts my memory. Sooner or later, they all get put down.

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