Run Billy Run

           Run Billy Run

Suzanne Marsh

He shook Paulita awake gently, she opened her large dark brown eyes a surprised look upon her lovely features. Billy, grabbed her up in his arms and twirled her around. When her feet finally touched ht Billy kept replaying the message he had received from Paulita, his girlfriend, the message was delivered by her brother Pete. It read:”Billy, I need to see very soon”. Paulita. Billy his face hidden by his large sombrero, he rode stealthy down the dirt street toward Pete Maxwell’s home, where Paulita resided. His heart was full of hope as he halted the large bay mare in front of the house. He crept quietly up the wood staircase toward Celsa Guttierez’s room. He quietly opened the door, hoping not to scare her. H e wooden floor, creaked as he stepped into her room.

Billy, stared into those dark soulful eyes, content just to be there safe in her arms. He had been on the run for two months when he received the message from Paulita. He did not trust Paulita or her brother Pete, simply because Pete was a friend of Pat Garrett’s. Instead he went to Celsa’s room, where he sought comfort in her arms. Celsa was absolutely the most beautiful girl Billy had ever met. He had made love to her, the first time. He had wanted it to be special. Celsa, motioned Billy to sit on the bed. She took his work callused hand in her dainty had:

“Billy, I am pregnant.”

Billy gasped, this was not the news he was hoping for; he tried to convince Clesa several times to elope with him. He would get work as a ranch hand, they would have a good life. Billy tilted his head as if to listen for any strange sounds from within the house. He knew Sheriff Pat Garrett was relentlessly trailing him, all he wanted was take Paulita and run. Billy, his slight six foot high personage, stood up:

“Celsa, I want to stay but I think Pat is here and is gunning for me. I ain’t got nothin against Pat other than he is the law. Celsa, I want you to run away with me. We can go to Texas where nobody would know us.”

than he is the law. Celsa, I want you to run away with me.” Celsa, had wanted to hear the words but could she live on run for the rest of her life:

“Billy, we would be on the run the rest of our lives, I am not sure I could live that way. I want

to have your child.”

Billy, his blue eyes wide with promise:

“Look Celsa, Texas is a big place, we could change our names, no one would know. Texas

is big. Celsa, promise me you will come with me.”

Celsa, her dark eyes glowing, realized that maybe what Billy was saying about running away to Texas and changing their names, they could be together and raise the child:

“When do you wish to me to go Billy?” she said as she raised here eyes up to meet his:

“Tonight, I want to get something to eat, I am hungry.” Celsa, thought for a moment:

“Billy there is a side of beef hanging on Pete Maxwell’s porch.”

Billy, although hungry had something else in mind first. He gathered her in his arms, gently picking her up off the bed and held her tight. He then laid her softly on the bed. Later that night around twelve in the morning, Billy began to feel hungry once again. He took a knife and pistol with him, padding bare foot to Pete Maxwell’s house. The hairs on the back of Billy’s neck stood on end, something was wrong, he could feel it. Billy continued toward the porch, moving silently.

Pat Garrett waited patiently with Deputies John Poe and Kip McKinney, they had been there before Sundown. Pete, had told Garrett that Billy would be there that night, he did not tell him how or why. Garrett, and the two deputies were well hidden in the brush, hoping this would end well for them. Billy had escaped jail, and his execution, Pat did not want that on his record.

The night was hot and sultry, sweat dripped from Garrett and his men. Garrett, around twelve midnight went to seek out Pete Maxwell. He found his room and entered. Garrett strode over to the bed and shook Maxwell awake:

“Come on Pete, wake up, where is Billy?”

Pete Maxwell’s eyes flew open:

“Pat I have no idea, all I know is that he is here somewhere. He may be with Celsa or Paulita,

more than likely Celsa.”

Garrett stood there silently for a moment:

“All right Pete, I am going to stay here for a bit just in case Billy pays you a visit.”

Pete just wanted to go back to sleep:

“Fine Pat, sit on the bed in the dark I am gonna go back to sleep.”

Sheriff Pat Garrett waited patiently, Billy was not going to be the one that away twice. Pete rolled back over and began to snore. Billy, in the interim Billy was moving closer to the hanging beef side. He cut a slice off and began to eat.

Billy heard a twig snap, placing him on instant alert. He thought he was just jumpy, he had give Pat the slip hiding out on the sheep ranch for the last three months. Billy heard something move, he knew Pete’s bedroom was close by. He could barricade himself in there if he had to. He heard voices in Pete’s bedroom, one was Pete’s the other he thought he recognized. Billy enquired: “Quien es Pete?” Pete mumble a reply. Billy fled back to Celsa’s room, they were going to leave now.

Several shots rang out, Pete Maxwell finally found a match to light the gas light. Pat Garrett, strode over to the body, he turned the body over, John Poe turned the body over, the man had a full dark beard, it wasn’t Billy.

“Pat, you shot the wrong man, this ain’t Billy, all he had was peach fuzz, this guy has a

full beard.”

Pat, stood gawking at the body:

“This is Billy, we are going to bury the body quickly.”

Later that morning Billy and Celsa slipped out of Fort Sumner, ridding double. They rode from Fort Sumner hiding out in small Texas town. Two years later they found their way to Hico, Texas, where they lived quietly. Billy was known as Brushy Bill Roberts, his wife took the name Mollie. There will always be the question of whether Brushy Bill was in fact Billy the Kid. The question remains did Pat Garrett actually kill Billy or did he help to free him?