Fighting for Justice

 Fighting for Justice

By Terri 

This is third in a series, starting with FINAL JUSTICE, followed by FINDING JUSTICE

You need to read those first, as they all are A/R to The High Riders and beyond.

Thanks so very much to my wonderful beta, Lacy, for all her hard work and guidance.

Any errors are my own. 

Chapter 10

 

 

Johnny and Val were up early the next morning. After checking out and saying goodbye to the Bowers, they walked over to the sheriff’s office.  Bill nodded as they walked into the office. “You boys ready?”

“Let ‘er buck,” Johnny replied.

Bill motioned Johnny to come with him and walked back to the cell. The two marshals cuffed the prisoner’s hands behind his back and marched him into the front office. 

“Val, why don’t you go ahead of us and scope things out,” Bill suggested.

 Bill and Johnny waited a few minutes in order to give Val time to look around, then herded the prisoner out the door.  A small crowd had gathered to watch, and Johnny motioned them back, then moved into position behind Bill as he walked down the sidewalk. Johnny had undone the loop on his gun, and his hand hovered over the butt as he scanned the crowd. He nodded and smirked at Mr. Meyers, who bolted back into his store.  Small boys ran into the street, excited at seeing a real live outlaw and two marshals, but gradually the crowd dispersed as they approached the train station.  Johnny relaxed when Val nodded at him from the platform.

“Did a quick look in the cars and didn’t see anyone I was worried about,” Val offered as he stepped in beside Johnny.

Johnny nodded, then followed Bill and the prisoner to the very back of the train and up the steps into the private car.  Val stayed outside until the train started to move, then stepped inside and locked the door. The prisoner was shackled to a large Buck stove next to one of the walls. Since the weather was warm, it wouldn’t be used. A cot had been pushed up next to it so the prisoner could sit or lie down without being unchained, and a chamber pot stood next to the cot.  Bill wasn’t planning on unchaining him at all.   Val headed for the door leading to the rest of the train. 

“Lock this behind me,” he ordered as he stepped out. “I’m going to have a look around.”

Johnny locked the door, then removed his hat and settled on a couch against the wall, while Bill sat on another couch on the opposite side.

“You guys think you’re real good, don’t you?” Younger sneered. “Don’t matter how careful you are, I’m going to be a free man before we get to Minnesota.”

“Doubt it,” Johnny shot back.

“Oh, do you now?” Younger replied.

“Yep.”

“You’re pretty cocky for such a young pup,” Younger smirked.   He nodded at Johnny’s gun. “Do you even know how to use that?”

“Oh, I manage,” Johnny smiled as Bill laughed.

“You’re barkin’ up the wrong tree, Younger,” Bill chuckled.

“What’s the joke?” the outlaw asked. 

“You are,” Johnny replied.  “But if you’re a good boy and behave yourself, you won’t have to die wondering how come you were such an idiot.”

Younger sat back and narrowed his eyes. The kid in front of him couldn’t be much more than twenty or twenty-five, but evidently he was competent with a gun.  Well, he might be competent, but he sure wasn’t in a class with the James brothers.  They were the best gunman alive. He sure hoped he’d get to see this kid’s face when Jesse or Frank took him down. 

Twenty minutes later Val was back. “Just checkin’ in. I figure whoever’s scouting around needs to check in every half hour or so.”

Bill nodded. “Good idea. Anything suspicious?”

“Nope. Everything’s quiet and no one on the train looks like trouble. Well, except for some old biddy who’s raisin’ hell because someone got the private car she ordered.”

Bill chuckled. “Guess she’ll just have to cope.”

“Just warnin’ you. She doesn’t know yet who swiped this car and when she does, we’d all better duck. Right now she’s taking it out on her husband.”

“When’s the next stop?” Bill asked.

“In about an hour. We’ll be taking on passengers, water and coal.  The stop’s about 30 minutes.”

“All right. We’ll switch at the stop.”

 

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The time went slowly for the men.  They’d been on the train for two days, and although they’d been able to cat nap, they were all tired.  They had to check out everyone boarding at each stop day and night, and one of them was always walking around the train. Although Younger hadn’t tried anything, they all got the feeling that he was just waiting for an opportunity. They were tired of his constant complaining about his treatment, but they all figured he was getting better than he deserved.  All in all, they couldn’t wait for the trip to be over.

 

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  The next morning they pulled into Sioux Falls. Johnny was checking out the last of the arriving passengers and had just stepped back aboard the train when an older lady came stomping up to him. “Young man! I need to talk to you!

“Just give me a minute, ma’am,” he said politely.

“I will not! I need to talk to you now!” she demanded, stomping her cane on the ground for emphasis.

Johnny had spied four men wearing guns hanging out by the water tower, but he hadn’t gotten a good look at them and he wanted to check them out.  “Ma’am, I’ll be right back,” he said as he started to step toward the door.  She grabbed his arm as he went by, spinning him around. He jerked his arm away, and the lady lost her balance and started to fall. He grabbed her and prevented her from falling, and then the train started moving. Cursing, he made his way to the door, but the men had disappeared.

“How dare you speak like that around a lady!” She shrieked.

“Ma’am, SIT DOWN!” he demanded.

Her eyes widened dramatically. “I will not! I am going to make a complaint about you to the other marshals in the back car! MY CAR!” she exclaimed as she stomped away and barged through the doorway to the next car. She had just gone through the second door when Johnny heard a scream. Before he could take more than a few steps, she reappeared, with a man holding a gun to her head.

 

 

Val and Bill both heard the scream and looked at each other.  

“Lock the door behind me.  I’m goin’,” Val said.  At Bill’s nod, he bolted out the door toward the next car. Although the passengers were talking excitedly, he didn’t see anything wrong. He headed up toward the next car.   He cautiously opened the door and saw a bunch of passengers standing and talking.

“What happened?” he asked one of the men.

“Four men swung onto the train just as it started. They had guns and they grabbed an old lady as she came through that door,” he said excitedly as he pointed at the door leading to the next car.  “They took the lady in there!”

“All right everybody,” Val said.  “Settle down!  You need to leave this car RIGHT NOW! Leave everything! Go through that back door into the next car and stay low! And keep your damn heads down when the shooting starts!  Now MOVE!”

Val walked to the door, then glanced back to make sure the people were all out.  When the car was empty, he cautiously opened the door a crack.

 

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“Listen up! If you don’t want me to blow this lady’s brains out, you’ll all just stay put and not make any moves!  I’m Jesse James and this is my brother, Frank. These other two men are the Younger brothers and we’re here to rescue their brother.    Maybe you’ve heard of us,” he smirked as the other two outlaws stepped into the car. “Get your valuables together.  We’ll pick them up on the way out. And don’t even think of holding out on us!”

Johnny had been standing behind another man when he saw Val slowly open the back door.  Val nodded to him and motioned for Johnny to come towards him. Johnny nodded back, staying hidden behind the other man as he watched Val close the door again.

“Now where are they holding my friend?” Jesse demanded to the people in the car.

“In the last car! Now please don’t hurt me!” the old lady pleaded.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Jesse answered. “But I think I might just keep ahold of you for a little longer.  Now move!” he ordered as he pushed her toward the back door.

Johnny waited until all of the outlaws had turned their backs on him, then he whispered to the man in front of him. “I’m a Federal Marshal and I’m going after them. As soon as I get to that door, get everybody down.  There’s going to be some gunplay. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir!” The man responded. 

Johnny saw the last outlaw step through the door, then bolted toward it. He heard the people behind him scrambling as he drew his gun.  He took a deep breath, then threw open the door.

 
to be continued