The Mountain Girl Chapter (14)

The Mountain Girl Chapter 14
Will, makes a confession to Jess before he passes away. But, will Jess
take him
serious go read, and find out.

Written By Neet,
Dated 4-29-02
The Confession

Jay said, "I think it is ok now. I believe the wind has stopped
blowing". Beth
mumbled, "No papa let's not go out there I'm scared". He told her,
"honey it's all
right as he handed her to Angel".

Jay carefully opened up the trap door, and peeked out. He said, "Dolly
everything is
a mess". They all made their way up the stairs. "Well I see the barn
made it. The
house is in shambles, but nothing that can't be fixed" Jay,
responded.

Dolly, and Angel stepped up on the front porch. The door was gone, and
all the
windows were shattered. Angel looked through the doorway, Jay was
right
everything was a mess.

Angel said, "O, Dolly I am so sorry about your house"! Dolly mumbled,
"it doesn't
matter it isn't my house anyhow". Angel asked, "What did you say"?
Dolly said, "I
just meant it is more Will's then mine"!

Angel stared at Dolly's backside, and thought, "I wonder what she meant
by that?

Beth yelled, "mama I can't find Stinky anywhere". Jay shouted, "Here he
is Beth"!
He was hiding in the barn with the horses. Jay came out leading his
horse.

"Angel do you think you girls will be ok? I got to go find Jess, and
Will" Jay, asked.
Angel said, "Yes of course, Beth, and I will help Dolly clean up the
place".

********

Jess took his undershirt off, and poured water on it from the canteen.
He washed
Will's head, and face. He kept saying over, and over Will can you hear
me? It's me,
"Jess"! If only you could tell me what to do!

Will muttered, "Son I can hear you. I'm busted up pretty bad"! I think
I'm hurt
worse on the inside then the out. Jess would you, "please get me some
medicine out
of my saddlebag"?

Jess reach in, and pulled out a small medicine bottle. Is this it Will?
Will nodded his
head. Jess held his head up, and Will drank it from the bottle.

Will said, "Where are we son"? Jess said, "underneath a big boulder". I
had to bring
you in here out of the tornado's path.

Jess looked down Will had fallen asleep. Jess set down next to him, he
was burning
up with fever. He took the shirt, and once again wiped him down with
the water.

Will looked at Jess, and mumbled, "I don't think I'm going to make it
son". Jess
said, "don't talk that way Will"! I'll go get help, now that the storm
has passed.
Besides, I know my pa is looking for us. Will replied, "Jess, please
don't go. I don't
want to be left alone in what short time I have left"!

*******

Jay rode through the creek, and wondered where they could be. He knew
he
wouldn't be able to pick up their tracks after that storm. His guess
was, "he had
ridden a good 6 miles". The trees were piled up like matchsticks. "What
a mess",
Jay, thought! He sure hoped Jess found Will, and shelter before that
tornado hit.
Jay, stopped his horse, and looked around. He squinted his eyes! He
could see
something lying on the ground in a distance.

Jay kicked gabby in the flank saying giddy-up. He shouted, "Will's
horse"! He slid
off, and ran over to it. It had been hit in the head by a something
heavy. He said, "It
could have been anything in that storm".

Jay checked it out, "he was still warm he hadn't been dead long". He
knew Jess had
found Will; everything on the horse was missing. "But where were they"
he, asked
himself?

********

Jess muttered, "Will" I want leave you! Will smiled, and mumbled, "I
wish I had a
son like you". Jess said, "Well, thank you Will"! Will drifted off to
sleep, and then
he was awake again. "He was talking all kinds of nonsense", Jess
thought. Will,
kept mumbling about a confession.

I have no ideal what you mean Will. It was as if he didn't hear a word
Jess said.
Will asked, "Did you hear what I said Jess"?
Jess replied, "Yes sir! But we don't own your house; we live in a
cabin". Jess
thought, "he sure is confused all this talk about his house, being our
house".

Jess just shook his head, and thought, "he must be hurt in the
head".

Will said, "When you get back to the house". I want you to do me a
favor. Jess said,
sure Will, "What is it"? I want you to go in the setting room! Jess,
I'm so light
headed I can't remember where I put things. He never mentioned the
setting room
again. Jess wondered, "what it was that he wanted him to look
for".

Jess just sort of stared at him he was getting weaker. Jess knew just
by the looks of
him he could go anytime. He felt so sorry for him, and a chill ran down
his spine he
had never seen anyone pass away before.

Will spoke again, Jess tell your mama, I said, "I am sorry for the way
I handled
things". Jess said, "No problem Will, I'll tell her"! He must be
talking about the
way, he patched mama up, Jess thought.

"Jess, I'm sorry the way I treated you, and Beth also" Will, stuttered.
He said,
"That's what happens when a man drinks too much"! Son, "don't ever let
the bottle
get the best of you". Do you get my meaning "Jess"? Jess replied, "I
understand
completely Will"! Will smiled, and said, "I kind of figured you did,
you're a smart
young man".

Tell your pa, "He's got a fine leather shop there"! Now he can make, or
do
whatever he wants," Will, muttered. Beth, you tell her, "I think her
name should be
smiley". She is such a pretty thing!

Jess one last thing, I want you to tell, "Dolly" I had the cabin, and
the land put in
her name a few months back. O! Jess, Would you see to it that she gets
what money
is left"? Jess replied, "I will make sure she gets it Will".

Will said, "I know I can count on you son". You think you can remember
all that
Jess? Jess replied again, "Will, I'll remember"! Son, I want you to get
that metal
container yourself, and don't tell anybody until you do. "Do you
understand son",
Will asked?

Jess thought, "metal container no I don't understand"! But Jess didn't
say,
"anything". Will said softly Jess, "I hope you don't mind me calling
you son". Jess
replied, "not at all Will". Jess he whispered one last thing; "Would
you please tell
Dolly I love her"?

Jess was lost for words; He didn't no what to say! He sat there in
silence, and
looked out the opening in the rock. He heard Will gasp for breath, and
he looked
down at him. Jess said, "Will"! He put his ear to his chest; he could
not hear his
heartbeat.

The tears formed in Jess's eyes, "and he wept silently". (To be
continued)