For Better Or Worse Chapter 17

Jessie awoke the next morning.  She let out a contented sigh as she reached her arm over to the other side of the bed.  Her heart dropped when she found there was no one there.

"It wasn't a dream..."  She whispered to herself, "It really did happen..."

Jessie slowly got out of bed.  She stood in the room.  Looking over at her end table, she picked up the ring box.  She caressed the small box that held the beautiful gem...the gem that Woody said resembled her eyes...

Jessie fell back onto the bed.  As she sat there, she began to weep.

"Oh, Woody..."  She let out a shakey sigh.

Jessie managed to compose herself enough to head out to the barn and take care of Bullseye.

The horse looked at her questionably.

"Woody left."  She told him sadly.

Bullseye was taken aback.  He snorted at her, expressing his concern.

"It's my fault, boy..."  Jessie began, "I...I messed up..."  

Bullseye neighed sadly as he nudged her.

"I...I don't know what to do..."  She told him.

Bullseye began to walk away.  

"Bullseye?  Come on, not you too!"  She said sadly as she followed him.

He pointed to the saddle with his nose.

"I don't know...I doubt if he wants to see me..."

Bullseye neighed sternly as he stamped his hoof.

"Okay!  Geez, you sure are bossy..."  Jessie said with a chuckle as she saddled up the horse.

*******

"Woody, you've been up all night.  You need some rest."  Hamm told him as they sat in the sheriff office.

Woody shook his head.  "I'm fine.  I just...I need to make sense of this."  He said with a yawn.

"Look, there aren't any traces...no evidence..."  Hamm pointed out.

"There's gotta be something...someone did it...someone wanted Slade dead.  But who?  And why?"  Woody said to himself as he paced around his office.

"What about that Sol guy?  The new mayor?  I mean...that's pretty convenient..."

Woody nodded.  "I've got my eye on him.  But...He has a good alibi...and that document is signed.  The signature looks natural, so it wasn't signed under duress...."  Woody deliberated with himself.

The doctor smiled.  "I know you are just doing your job...but why don't you take a break?  Come with me down to The Saloon, I'll buy us some drinks.  Maybe a little relaxation will bring the answers to mind."

Woody looked at the doctor.  The Saloon...that's where Jessie works....

"I don't know..."  Woody told him.

"Come on!  I'm sure you could use a drink, and maybe some lunch,"  Hamm said.

Woody sighed.  "Oh...alright.  I guess it couldn't hurt..."

*******

"Alright, Bullseye.  You're gonna have to stay here for a bit.  Is that okay?"  Jessie said when they reached The Saloon.  They were in the back of the building.  Bullseye nodded.

Jessie rushed in and dressed for work.

"Welcome back, dear!"  Bo said to her.

Jessie nodded.  She was now sporting a blue number.  It was adorned with sequins, white lacing, and a low cut neck.  There was a blue bow in her hair, which she let down.

"I can do this..." She whispered to herself, "He probably won't even come in today..."

Jessie hurried over to a rowdy bunch waiting for drinks.  She didn't even see Woody and Doc Hamm walk in.  

"Well, let's get us some drinks,"  Hamm said, "Shall we?"

Woody gave a weak sigh and followed Hamm to the bar.

"Howdy, boys!"  Bo exclaimed before she looked up.  "Oh!  Hiya, Sheriff!"  She said breathlessly.

Woody tipped his hat to her.

"What can I get you boys?"

"Two whiskeys."  Hamm told her.

Woody shook his head.  "Water's fine."

Hamm glared at him.  "Are you against having a little fun?"

"...Maybe."

Hamm rolled his eyes.  "Two whiskeys, dear."

Bo nodded and went to get the drinks.

Woody reached into his pocket and pulled out some papers.  He began examining them.

"Why did you bring work with?  This is supposed to be a break."  Hamm said sternly.

"Look, this just keeps my mind occupied, okay?"  Woody told him.

Hamm looked around the bar.  "There's plenty of other ways to keep your mind...occupied."

Woody glared at him.  Hamm chuckled.

"Bring those to the table, would ya?"  Hamm called to Bo.  She nodded.

Woody sighed as he followed Hamm to a table.

"Hey, thanks, Babe!" A man said to Jessie as he smacked her bottom.  She gasped, abruptly turned around, and smacked the man.  The others at the table were quiet, but the table was in the back corner, so it wasn't noticed by the rest of the bar.

The man's hand flew to his cheek.  He grabbed Jessie's wrists.

"Aw, what's the matter, honey?" The man's breath reeked of alcohol.  "Ain't too fond of a little tough love?"  He said as he backed her against a table.

"Get off me!"  Jessie shouted, but her voice was drowned out by the music.

"That ain't no way to treat customers..."  He said as his hand went back down to her bottom.  She was pinned against the table by the disgusting man's body.  He was big, so her struggles were in vein.  

The others at the table cheered him on.  Jessie felt the man begin to unzip her dress...

She tried to struggle free, but the man was too strong, and too drunk.  

"Shh..."  He whispered.  It made Jessie sick.

His hands were touching her in all the wrong places.  She began to sob quietly.

"Hmm...there's usually more waitresses around here."  Hamm commented.

Woody looked up at him.  "We haven't been waiting tha-"  He abruptly stood.  The scene he saw before him was nauseating.  Woody rushed to the drunk man violating Jessie.

"Get your hands off me...or....or I'll...."  Jessie managed.

"Or you'll what?"  The drunk man hissed as his hands strayed.

All at once, the man was lunged against the wall.  Jessie found herself freed and knelt down.

Woody walked up to the man, roughly picked him up, and slammed him against the wall.

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?!"  Woody shouted venomously.

The man just shook his head.  "I-I wasn't doin' no h-harm..."

Woody's eyes narrowed.  "That's not the way I see it."

The man was terrified.  "I....I..."

"What makes you think...that...is okay?!"  Woody screamed, indicating what the man had been doing.

The man continued stammering.  Woody delivered one hard, swift punch into the man's jaw, knocking him out cold.

Woody shook the pain out of his hand as the bar cheered.  He turned around to see Jessie's tear-filled eyes staring back at him.  She quickly shook her head and ran upstairs.

"Jessie..."  Woody whispered to himself as he followed her.