Combined effort of Tensleep and Scarlet
“He ain’t safe in that cell ‘Sleep.” Johnny called out.
Tensleep looked at him questioningly, more curious than anything else.
“Look if T.J. dies and Jimmy decides it’s his fault.” Johnny pointed at Cap’n “there’s not a man on this place gonna stand between them. If that outlaw rides out here lookin’ for him I just might be inclined to turn ‘im over too.”
Capn’s eye went wide as he listened to what the Ranch owner had to say.
“Only two men on this place can save your hide mister, and they’re both fixin to ride out.” The ranch hand said with half a smile.
“Marshal!” Cap’n was on his feet. “Robert Dove, Boston. I’ll tell you anything you want to know as long as you can insure my safety.”
Johnny suppressed a grin. While he hadn’t lied he knew every man had a breaking point, one just had to find it. Sometimes lettin’ one in on the truth, especially when it involved his future, was the best way to get what you wanted from them.
Tensleep leaned forward on Buck, his forearms resting on the saddlehorn. "Yer buyin' tha insurance Mr Dove, let's see what size policy ya want. Where'd tha army pick you up? Why? What tha hell do you know that's important enough to lose good men over? You got answers then you got insurance, but let me tell ya, you lie to me an' I'll ride off an' Jimmy can do what he dern well pleases with you. Ya hear me mister?"
Robert Dove peered in Jimmy’s direction. The man was washing the army scout’s blood off of the light colored horse and in Robert’s opinion looked to be growing more irritated every second.
“I was on a train headed towards Fort Worth. It was robbed and most of the passengers killed, some taken. I do not know why the army is interested in what or who was on the train. There was another man besides myself, looked like we could be brothers. He told the Army he could identify the men that robbed the train. Then they escorted him off. They told me they were sending some men to El Paso if I wanted to ride with them I was welcome to. They dressed me like one of the soldiers so I wouldn’t draw attention….or so I was told.”
"Now why in God's good name should I believe that story? Man looked like you gets hauled away, and the army offers you a free trip to El Paso. That don't make much sense." Tensleep straightened on Buck.
"Jimmy he ain't much, he's all yours. I hate liars."
Jimmy’s head jerked up at Tensleep’s voice. Grabbing a handful of mane he swung up onto his horse’s back. The sound of the Bowie he carried clearing it’s sheath rang loudly in Robert Dove’s ears. Robert dodged to the right only to be cut off by Jimmy’s horse. Jimmy leaned forward and grabbed him by the collar.
“You best know how far you are from Fort Worth ‘fore you start telling stories like that.” Jimmy hissed. “T.J. wouldn’ta traded his life for the likes o' you.”
“There was a gold shipment on the train too.” Robert squeaked as he was being hauled off his feet and fighting to keep Jimmy’s knife away from him.
“Two Federal employees were killed. I was the one they missed!”
Everyone heard what was being said as Dove's feet dangled off the gound. "Yer one heck of ah great interrigator there Jimmy... see what else you can get outta this feller. I bet he knows lots o' stuff." Tensleep was grinning now. "Do what ya want to jist don't kill him here, Rose don't like blood in her yard." As he finished speaking the marshal winked at Jimmy.
“What else do you want!!” Dove yelled towards Tensleep the best he could. He could hear his own heart pounding in his ears as the horse started to move. He was now half draped over the front of Jimmy’s horse.
"Wanna know where that gold was headed, wanna know why you wasn't killed, not even touched. I wanna know everything that the army wanted to know. Oh yeah.... I wanna know it NOW!" Tensleep looked at the man closely. "I really don't give a rat's ass about you, but I do want ta know who we are lookin' for and why!"