Shot in the Back Read Online Free Page B

his brother.
    â€œBigelow? You mean Charlie Bigelow?” Jesse asked.
    â€œYeah. Since you’ve heard of ’im, then you prob’ly know that he’s been robbin’ stores, stagecoaches, and even held up a bank, claimin’ to be you,” Charley Ford said.
    â€œThat’s how come there’s been all these robberies that you’ve been blamed for that you didn’t do,” Bob said.
    â€œLike you say, I have heard of him, but I’ve never met him,” Jesse said.
    â€œWell, if you was to see him, you’d think you was lookin’ in a mirror,” Bob Ford said.
    â€œHe looks that much like me?”
    â€œYeah, he does. That’s how come he’s been able to convince ever’one that he’s you,” Charley said.
    â€œSo, when I say I’m goin’ to collect the reward on you, what I’m actually goin’ to do is collect it on him,” Bob said, “and pass him off as you. That way, the law will think they’ve got their man, and you’ll be free and clear. Nobody will be looking for you again.”
    Jesse shook his head. “That won’t do. If you take him in, he’ll just say that he isn’t me. And there are enough people who actually do know me that they’ll know he’s tellin’ the truth.”
    â€œHe won’t be tellin’ nobody anythin’ if he’s dead,” Bob said.
    â€œYou plan to kill him?”
    â€œAt your house,” Bob said.
    â€œAt my house?”
    â€œIt has to be done at your house, if we are to pass him off as being you.”
    Jesse shook his head. “Not with Zee and the kids there.”
    â€œYou’ll just have to get them out of the house for a while.”
    â€œHow are you goin’ to get Bigelow to come to my house?”
    â€œI know that he would like to join up with your gang,” Bob said. “He’s asked me a couple of times to talk to you about it. All I have to do is tell ’im that we’re goin’ to pull another job ’n you want him to join us.”
    Jesse drummed his fingers on the table for a moment or two. “All right,” he said. “Go see him, and the three of you come over to the house for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
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    â€œI thought you weren’t going to do any more jobs,” Zerelda said as she cut bacon for their breakfast.
    â€œI’ve got to, Zee. We didn’t get but three thousand dollars from the last job, which I had to divide that up with the others. And that was six months ago. We’re running out of money.”
    â€œWhen, Jesse? When are you going to stop? We have two kids who don’t even know their real names. Jesse and Mary think they are Tim and Mary Howard.”
    â€œFor now it’s best that they don’t know their real names. We can’t take the chance on one of them saying something. In fact, why don’t you take them down to the park this morning before the men come? You don’t need to know what’s going on anyway.”
    â€œAll right,” Zerelda said. “But, Jesse, please promise me. After today, no more jobs.”
    Jesse put his hands on Zerelda’s shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.
    â€œI promise you, Zee,” he said. “After today, Jesse James will pull no more jobs.”
    â€œNor Tom Howard,” she said.
    Jesse nodded. “Nor Tom Howard,” he promised.
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    Shortly after Zee left, Bob Ford arrived with his brother and Charlie Bigelow.
    â€œThanks for agreeing to take me into your gang,” Bigelow said.
    â€œI’m not taking you into my gang,” Jesse replied. “I no longer have a gang.”
    â€œBut, Bob told me—”
    â€œHe told you that so that you would come,” Jesse said. “Bigelow, what were you thinking, killing and robbing, and passing yourself off as me?”
    â€œI . . . I only did it out of respect for you,”