"Damn it Snake!" I cried as I dropped down to make sure Johnny was breathing. "What have you done?"
He slowly stepped away from the cell and put his pistol back into it's holster. "I don't care if he is your husband Prissy, I ain't about to let him threaten you. No way in Hell." There was a nasty red whelp already forming between Johnny's eyes, but his breathing was regular and I knew he would be alright. I stood up and faced Snake. "Who does what to me, is not your affair anymore Snake Johnson! You best remember that! That was a foolish thing to do. You might have kilt him. You just don't think, you never did! Now tell me why you got poor Johnny locked up here in the first place!"
A slow smile crawled across his face as he began to roll a cigarette. And with that smile I felt my anger wane. "Well now Priscilla Barns, or I guess it's Cardwell now ain't it?" He lit his cigarette with a match he struck off the wall and eased back, sitting on his desk. "It's mighty nice to see you as well."
"Don't try to charm me Snake. I am not a little girl anymore! I ain't the person you knew. I am a school teacher here. And a wife! And a mother! I done built me a better life here in this town and I ain't gonna let you take it away from me! You or nobody else!" All the frustration, fear, and anger I had been feeling seemed to rush back to the surface and I was practically screaming at him.
"Whoa gal!" He said in a soft calm tone. "No need to get so riled up. I ain't here to take nothin from you. I didn't know this here fella was your husband when I brung him in here. You know why I am here Prissy. I am after Kid Holmes. I ain't after you. I didn't even know you was here."
"Well," I said, calming down some, "what about Johnny here? How much trouble is he in?"
"Not much, unless he keeps up that foolish talk about puttin a hand to you. Now tell me the truth Prissy. He ever hurt you?"
"No Snake. Never. You know I wouldn't stand for it. You taught me better than that." As much as I tried to fight it, I felt a slight smile creep across my face. "He's a good man Snake. At least, he used to be."
"Alright then Prissy, I will take you at your word. When he wakes up, I'll let him out. But he needs to be careful. Seems like he's runnin with a dangerous pack. I don't want him to get hurt on account of you. And your baby." My heart broke as he mentioned Joshua and I had to quickly look away.
"I am sorry I ran out on you like that Snake. You didn't deserve that."
He stood and placed his hand on my shoulder turning me back to him. His palm slipped up to my cheek and his eyes bore right through me. "I imagine you had your reasons Prissy. Now don't you fret none. It's alright. You just go on back home and care for that child. I will get your man to you soon enough."
"Alright Snake. I, .... I...." I didn't know what to say to him.
"Hush now." Damn him. "I will watch out for him while I am here. I owe you that much. Go on now" and he eased me towards the door. I looked back at Johnny slumped against the cell bars as I walked outside.
"You don't owe me anything" I whispered to myself as I left.
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