All his life Wes had been told he would be a minister. By now he was twelve and wanted to have fun. His father, Preacher Hardin, was always lecturing Wes and his brothers. Joe liked these lectures, but Wes on the other hand was restless.

His father hearing all the commotion walked out and caught him. Wes was led into the house by Preacher Hardin and was whipped with a piece of rawhide, which his father kept handy for this purpose. He was also lectured, but this didn't stop him from sneaking out every night to hang out with the boys. That is how he learned how fun it was to earn pennies, nickels , and pocketknives.

Even though Wes crept out every night he had a brilliant mind in school. At school there was a girl who most people made fun of, her name was Sally. Wes though was very thoughtful of others. Sally was very plump, slightly cross-eyed and self-conscious. All the kids called her Sal, but Wes called her by her proper name. On the playground he often came to her defense when she was made fun of. They became good friends.

At school Wes also had a few people who didn't like him, one of those being his worst enemy, Charles Slotter. Charles wanted to even accounts with Wes, so one Friday noon, Charles snuck into the school and wrote a phrase about Sally. The phrase started:"I love Sal and Sal loves mutton".

Charles accused Wes of writing the verse. Wes stood up for himself and said he'd seen Charles slip into the school at recess. "You're a liar!," shouted Charles rushing towards Wes and punching him in the nose. Charles then drew out his pocketknife. Wes got up angrier than a bull, and he too got out his pocketknife. He flipped it open and drove it through Charles' chest. He pulled it back out, reached behind Charles and stabbed him in the back. For ten days it seemed as though Charles would die, but he recovered and saved Wesley from an accusation of murder. News of the fight spread and people demanded that Wes be expelled.

Preacher Hardin though still angry, praised Wes for his bravery, and defense of his life.

This information is from the book John Wesley Hardin:Texas Gunman by Lewis Nordyke. William Morrow & Co., New York,1957