Western Hospitality

back.

Tess considered leaving him this way. That would spare her the grisly task of plunging a blade into him.

She heard pattering hooves.

The Accomplice’s scrawny cream-colored mare galloped past her wounded master at full speed, wary of Harper who stood sentry on the hill and Tess, whom the horse did not know too well. After a successful first-lap, she looped around close once more, a tad slower this time.

Tess sprung forth and grabbed the reins, reeling the horse's head around and forcing her to trot in circles with her. While they spun, Tess slipped her boot into the stirrup. Tess swung herself onto the mare's back. She dug her knees into the mare's belly. “Whoa!” She said, tugging on the reins firmly.

The horse bucked, screamed and ran them into the desert. Tess massaged the horse’s neck and called her by name, “Snow...”

“Come on Snow,” she said and rubbed below the horse’s ears. Tess rubbed her fingers in a circular motion, an old trick she'd learned.

Snow eventually ran out of fight and slowed down. Tess convinced her to return to where Harper and the Accomplice waited. She didn’t have the stomach to finish the Accomplice off so from atop her horse, she dropped her half-empty canteen, a few strips of salted beef and some beans that he would have to eat raw. Not a kind meal for a man with a torn throat, she reflected. The salt will burn like sin, but that's not my problem, she told herself.

Tess struck out for Fort Berwick, a place the law couldn't reach her. With Harper trailing behind, Snow galloped doubly fast, making excellent time. The two beasts never grew accustomed to each other but Harper minded her manners enough not to bite.

Tess found herself thinking the Accomplice lying in the desert. She kind of liked his rings of blonde hair. She appreciated that he had taken care of the more dangerous and vulgar parts of their robbery and never once asked to see or hold her money. That made her feel guilty for how she'd treated him.

That was his mistake, Tess reminded. You've outfoxed a fox and don't you dare feel guilty about it…

# # #

Tess found Fort Berwick at dawn and wondered how the Accomplice had fared the night. She had enough money to bring a doctor to him, but the doctor she found was no professional. He knew how to clean and stitch a wound and he had a good supply of medicines. In Fort Berwick, that made him a doc.

The Doc's horse cantered twice the speed of Snow's gallop. Tess gave scrupulous directions and allowed him to go on ahead of her for the sake of reaching the Accomplice sooner.

“Fix him up and bring him back to find a real doctor,” Tess said before she gave him the money. “You do him wrong and I'll come looking for you,” she warned.

As soon as the doctor was out of sight, Tess turned around and left. She had no intention of seeing either of them ever again.

Tess returned to the Doc's house while he was away and looted everything she found. There was cash, medicine and fresh food. By the time the Doc realized Tess had robbed him, Wyatt would have the care he needed.