Chapter 12

At Jimmy's house, his mother asked him to go to the store to buy a couple of things, so he put his coat on and went out to the store. As he arrived he went to the back of the store and grabbed some things that his mother needed. He walked to the cashier and the storekeeper charged Jimmy, as Jimmy was getting the change out of his pocket, he heard the door open but did not look to see who it was.

"Here's your change back Jimmy, may I help you sir?" asked the storekeeper.

"Yeah, do as I say and nobody gets hurt?" said Daniel holding a gun.

The cashier automatically but his hands up and Jimmy turned around.

"Now, give me all your money, put it in this bag," demanded Daniel.

"Yes sir," said the storekeeper.

The storekeeper pretended to put the money in the bag; he grabbed his pistol, Jimmy backed up against the countertop and reached behind him for the pistol.

"Hey what are you doing?" asked Daniel.

"Getting my things," said Jimmy.

"Show me your hands?" asked Daniel.

Jimmy quickly grabbed the gun and shot Daniel before Daniel could pull his trigger on his gun. Jimmy has never shot anybody before, he was afraid, and he turned and looked at the storekeeper.

"You saved us both, I thank you, Jimmy," said the storekeeper.

"But I'm no killer," Jimmy giving the gun to the storekeeper.

"You saved us, that is all that matters," said the storekeeper.

"When White Hawk comes home tomorrow, don't tell him where I am going?" asked Jimmy.

"Where are you going, it's almost dark outside?" asked the storekeeper.

"I'm going to stay with Jeremiah Johnson for a while," said Jimmy.

Then Jimmy ran out of the store and ran towards the mountains. The storekeeper called the reservation police and they came and asked questions. The storekeeper told the police that Jimmy was headed towards the mountains. Jeremiah Johnson was good friends with White Hawk and his family. So, the reservation police gathered all the information and went back to the station. When Jimmy arrived, he knocked on Jeremiah's door.

"Just a minute," said Jeremiah Johnson.

He opened the door and there was Jimmy.

"Jimmy, it's been a long time," said Jeremiah.

"Yes, too long, I need a place to stay awhile, I know it's late?" asked Jimmy.

"Sure, come on in, you can sleep in the extra bedroom," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"Thank you," said Jimmy.

So, Jimmy went into the bedroom and went to sleep.

The next morning everybody was waiting on the bus to get there with White Hawk. White Hawk's family and friends and girlfriend Mary were waiting. One of the reservation police was there also, he was going to tell White Hawk what happened. Finally, they saw the bus, they started shouting and clapping their hands. When the bus came to a stop White Hawk got off the bus and everybody was smiling and patting him on the back and welcoming him back home.

"Sweetheart, we're so glad your home, we've missed you, and look how you have grown so much," said Angel.

"Hey brother," said Nuka.

"Nuka, you have grown a lot," White Hawk hugging Nuka.

"You have to brother," said Nuka smiling.

" I'm glad your home," said Big Ben smiling.

"Hey little brother," smiled Spotted Eagle.

"Spotted Eagle, what are you doing here?" asked White Hawk.

"I live here now," said Spotted Eagle.

"Come here son, I'm glad your home," Running Water hugging White Hawk.

"Hey, where's Jimmy, I thought he would be here?" asked White Hawk.

"That's funny, he should have been here already, you'd think he would be the first one here," said Big Ben.

"He's probably around here somewhere," said Running Water.

"White Hawk, I need to talk to you about Jimmy," said the Native officer.

So White Hawk and his family followed the Native officer.

"What has happened, is Jimmy okay?" asked Angel.

"Yes, we think he killed a man yesterday, the store was being robbed," said the Native officer.

"I know Jimmy, he wouldn't kill anybody, he doesn't have the heart or guts to even kill someone," said White Hawk.

"Where is he?" asked Running Water.

"He is staying with Jeremiah Johnson, you can come along, and help us," said the Native officer.

"I'll go," said White Hawk.

Jimmy was helping Jeremiah Johnson chop up wood for the fireplace when Jimmy was chopping the wood he saw a Native on a black paint horse.

"Who is that?" asked Jimmy.

"That's my son, Eagle Crow. That's White Hawk's cousin. I took him in when he was younger, his parents didn't want anything to do with him. White Hawk brought him to me, I heard White Hawk was sick," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"Yes, he was, he is doing much better now, I hope, he's coming home today," said Jimmy.

"Eagle Crow, this is Jimmy, White Hawks friend," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"It's nice to meet you, my name is Eagle Crow."

"It's nice to meet you, my name is Jimmy."

"Hello," said Eagle Crow.

"I didn't know White Hawk had a cousin, he never mentioned or talked about him having a cousin, I grew up with him and his family," said Jimmy.

"Yeah, he has another cousin over in Rapid," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"He doesn't come up here anymore like he used to," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"Maybe he'll come more often now that I know you," said Jimmy.

So, Eagle Crow went to put his horse up and came back to help. When they were all done Eagle Crow looked down and saw policemen.

"Dad," said Eagle Crow.

Jimmy ran inside the house, Jeremiah Johnson and Eagle Crow were standing there watching the police officers.

"What do you want?" asked Jeremiah Johnson.

"I am sorry Jeremiah, we're here to take Jimmy," said the Native officer.

"Look, he told me what happened, he didn't mean to, it just happened, he was protecting himself and the storekeeper, it was either them or the bad

guy" said Jeremiah Johnson.

"I know, but he has to convince the judge," said the Native officer.

"Jimmy," whispered White Hawk.

"White Hawk, how did you?" asked Jimmy.

"I went behind the house, come on, it's my turn to help you now," said White Hawk.

So, they both went outside.

"Jimmy," said the Native officer.

Jimmy went down to the Native officer.

"Cousin," said Eagle Crow.

"Hey, you have grown up a lot also," said White Hawk smiling.

"Yeah," said Eagle Crow.

"Hello White Hawk, how's it," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"Good, it's good to see you both," said White Hawk.

"It's good to see you as well, don't be a stranger next time you visit," said Jeremiah Johnson.

"I won't I'll start coming back again," said White Hawk.

"Good," said Jeremiah Johnson.

So, the Native officers took Jimmy to the car and drove up to the courthouse and went inside and sat down.

"The court is now in session," said the police officer.

"Do we have a witness?" asked the Judge.

"Yes we do, here is the witness," said the Native officer.

"Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so

help you God?" asked the officer.

"I do," said the storekeeper.

"I run the store, Jimmy there was just a costumer when the deceased came inside, he pulled a gun if it wasn't for Jimmy either one of us would be sitting here today, and I can't thank him enough," said the storekeeper.

"So self-defense then?" asked the Judge.

"It looks that way, he has no criminal record, and we do have the weapon, but it was used in self-defense, not murder," said the DA.

"His record is clean and we do not have a case here, so he is free to go," said the Judge.

Everybody smiled and patted Jimmy on the back and left the courthouse.

"Let's get out of here," said White Hawk.

"It's really good to see you, I'm glad your back," said Jimmy.

"Yes, it's good to be home," said White Hawk.

"Thank you, my friend," said Jimmy.

"For what," asked White Hawk?

"For helping me," said Jimmy.

"That's what friends are for," said White Hawk.

"Right, thank you," said Jimmy.

"Your welcome," said White Hawk.

White Hawk took Jimmy home and they explained everything to Jimmy's mother. Then White Hawk went home and went to bed.