In the week following the schoolhouse burning down John wished more than ever that Sheriff Carson would reconsider his retirement. The people of Kiandra seemed impressed enough with John's record to date. As far as his ability to protect them went they seemed satisfied with a resume that included punching out Thomas Barrow, driving bushrangers off the Crawley's ranch, saving Robert Crawley, stopping a mine riot, helping get the miners' wages, trying to save Matthew Crawley, and rescuing two girls from a burning schoolhouse.
But it was not the same. They did not trust him. Not like they trusted Sheriff Carson.
On the outside they all seemed to respect him or acted like they took no mind to the fact that the man who protected them for years, who served as a staple of their town, was stepping down and would no longer wear the badge to protect them. But John saw it. He saw the way everyone stuttered a little in their steps around him. They almost seemed to live in fear and simultaneous awe of him.
That frightened John. He did not want to live in a town that only kept to the law because they feared him. He wanted them to trust him. Maybe even like him but he wasn't praying for a miracle.
Anna, ever the wonderful woman, told him it was all in his head but John knew. The only person not frightened of him was Anna. At the end of the day, he could live with that but it still kept him up at night…. Which drove Anna half mad.
"John Bates," She sat up in bed, looking down at him, "If you don't stop brooding I'll send you to sleep with Layl."
"Why would you send me in with Layl."
"Because that's where the brood mares go." Anna lay back down, turning away from John, "Make your decision."
John curled himself around Anna's back. "I'll stop."
"Don't make promises you don't intend to keep," She warned but John heard the smile in her voice and kissed her cheek.
"I'll keep this one. You're worth it."
"I hope so." Anna pulled his arm around her stomach, resting it where their child grew inside her. "Now go to sleep so I can sleep or you'll regret this in the morning."
John smiled to himself, hugging Anna to him, "Yes dear.
Within a month Sheriff Carson, or Mr. Carson as he insisted everyone call him now, married Mrs. Hughes. John and Anna waved them off to their honeymoon in Melbourne and watched as the newly wed couple climbed inside the carriage. The same carriage that deposited a tall, lanky man on the road. He helped Mrs. Hughes inside, tipped his hat to Mr. Carson, and grabbed his bag and what John suspected was a well-used gun in a worn sleeve. The man took a quick pivot to view what he could of the town from the roadway before spotting John.
He made for them immediately and John stiffened when the man climbed the few stairs to join them. He stuck his hand out to John and smiled, "Henry Talbot, your new Deputy."
"So soon?" John gave the man his hand and relaxed a little at the firmness of the man's shake.
"I was in the middle of a transfer anyway and it seemed kismet."
"Seemed what?" Anna's face scrunched and the man laughed.
"It's Yiddish. I have a few Semitic friends and it's the phrase for a happy coincidence." Talbot took his hand back, "I was looking for somewhere new."
"Why's that?"
"I'm a bit of an adventurer. I worked with the engineers for the train in Melbourne and a few of them talked about the plans to run a train up here, through Kiandra. They way they talked about this place I thought it was some kind of Promised Land so I thought I should see it. Also I think I can be of future assistance to a rail if they bring it here to get more commerce moving into these areas and maybe move the bushrangers out of them."
"I'd think more industry'd only draw them out." John folded his arms over his chest but Talbot shrugged.
"Depends on who you ask. The minds against it think like you do, that increased lucrative advantage only increases theft but I disagree. I think increase in industry opens opportunities and sullen boys playing at being men or destitute farmers looking to save their families from starvation would now have more than banditry to save themselves from despair."
"You sound almost like a philosopher than a lawman, Mr. Talbot." Anna gave him her hand and he kissed it.
"I fancied myself a bit of a philosopher and a poet at University but it doesn't feed you so I went looking for work that could feed me and provide adventure."
"I promise this job'll do both." John kissed Anna's cheek, "Let me show you where you'll be living."
John guided Talbot to the cabin John rarely used as Deputy. Talbot investigated the corners of the place before nodding. "This'll do just fine."
"You're very optimistic with a cursory look at the place."
"I tend to see the brighter side of life. As long as the roof doesn't leak and the door closes that's all that matters." Talbot left his bag on the bed and removed the gun sleeve to reveal his gun. "But I am also a pragmatist. I don't suspect I'll spent much time here."
"Why's that?"
"Well, if you don't mind me saying, with you as Sheriff and me as Deputy the ranging and hunting'll fall to me. More to the point you have your wife and, if I'm not mistaken, a baby soon." Talbot shrugged, "Seems only fitting I do the heavy lifting."
"We'll lift together shall we?" John smirked a little, "And you're not wrong, my wife is pregnant."
"Then congratulations." Talbot checked the rifle and then slid it back in its sleeve, "To the office then?"
John and Talbot walked on the edge of the road toward the office with John pointing out specific locations Talbot might need to visit in the days ahead to fully settle in. When they crossed in front of the Mary's shop John noticed Talbot stopped paying attention to him and seemed fixated on Mary. John paused before calling to Mary.
Her head came up and even from this distance John could see Mary's red eyes and streaked face. She dabbed with a handkerchief as she approached and shook John's hand. He kept his grip firm, holding at her arm in an attempt to show support.
"Hello Deputy Ba- I mean," She smiled, "Sheriff Bates. It'll take a little getting used to now that Carson's gone and retired."
"No one thinks that more than I do." John grinned at her before putting a hand on Talbot's shoulder. "This is the new Deputy, Henry Talbot. I thought we could arrange a time for him to meet your whole family and get to know them. He'll be protecting this town with me and I want him to know the best sorts that live here in Kiandra."
"Well," Mary eyed Talbot and John saw her eyebrow raise slightly as though she was not entirely impressed with what she saw. "If you think he needs help associating with the best sorts, Sheriff, I think perhaps you chose a poor companion."
"Then I guess it's a good thing he didn't choose me. The blame falls squarely on me but, then again, one never knows what they'll find in new places." Talbot extended his hand and Mary studied it a moment before giving her own limp grip in return. "I'm sure getting to know you and your family better will be a highlight of my experience here."
"I wouldn't count on it. My family's quite the bunch." Mary drew back, "I've a sister working as a nurse and walking out with a mine manager, a sister writing a newspaper in Melbourne, and a father with bad spending habits."
"Your sister writes for a newspaper?"
"Technically she owns it but I can't imagine the ghastly thing makes any money. She's not interesting enough to fill a teaspoon so I'd guess she either uses rather large type or leaves many a blank page." Mary tried to smile but her lips only tightened over her mouth as she turned back to John, "Tell Anna I said hello."
"Will do Mrs. Crawley." John tipped his hat to her and both men watched her walk away, trudging slowly in the cracked mud of the road.
"Seems quite the formidable woman." Talbot whistled, "Her husband must be something to even have her look twice at him much less agree to marry."
"He was a good man."
"By your use of the past tense verb I'd guess he's not a good man anymore."
"No." John shook his head, "He died a few months ago."
"Oh I am sorry." Talbot focused on Mary's shrinking form. "Explains her devastation."
"Most of it." John took Talbot to the office and directed him to the Deputy desk. "Matthew Crawley used to manage the Chinese workers at the mine that Robert Crawley, Mary's father, owns. Now that Matthew's no longer with us that's all handled by Mr. Tom Branson. He keep order there… mostly and I trust him to keep me informed of anything that may need our attention. Him or his right hand man, Alfred."
"Alfred and Tom?"
"Tom's the most outspoken Irishman in town and Alfred's the tall one with red hair, if we go a week without an incident that'd introduce you to them then I'll be surprised. They have a habit for attracting trouble." John slapped his hands on his desk, "Shall we get started?"
True to John's word that night, sharing a dinner with Talbot in O'Brien's establishment, Branson exchanged a few too many heated words with a man who had a few too many drinks and the man punched Branson over the top of the bar. He slid on the slick surface a moment before falling back and barely missing taking O'Brien to the floor with him.
John sighed and stood, wiping his mouth on a napkin before grabbing the arm of a man wielding what appeared to be a table leg. The man struggled but John yanked the leg from his arm and forced the man to the floor. He stepped over a couple rolling over the floor and went to grab Branson as he struggled over the bar.
"Mr. Branson, we need to not meet like this." John pulled Branson to the floor as the other man swung at them with a bottle.
He stumbled, the drink messing with his coordination, and knocked his own head on the bar. John and Branson only watched as the man slumped to the floor, drool already coming from his mouth. John took the bottle from his hand and placed it on the bar over his head before emerging.
John looked over the bar and watched Talbot snap a man in the throat with his elbow before bringing his arm forward to crunch another man's nose. Both fell to the floor and Talbot moved to the next grappling pair. John made a sound of approval as Branson reached for a forgotten half glass and downed it.
"Your new Deputy isn't the dandy I'd have been inclined to think."
"He'll survive." John pulled Alfred from a tangle and grabbed the other man by the back of his neck.
But this man was not drunkenly brawling like John thought. He spun in John's grip and threw his shoulder into John's gut to drive him out the door. John tried to stop the man's momentum but his boots caught in the wooden boards of the porch and the two fell to the ground, knocking the wind from John.
He raised his arms over his face as the man sat on his waist and tried to punch at him while John struggled to find enough air to restore his lungs. John kicked up with his knee and planted it firmly enough in the man's back to throw him over his head. The man tumbled to the ground and John rolled to his feet, still heaving for air, to tackle the man down. He grabbed the man's wrists, dodged a head butt, and put his knee to the man's throat.
"Now I'd like to think that this was simply a mistake on your part and you're too drunk but somehow I doubt it." John pressed harder when the man tried to knock John loose, "Why'd you come after me?"
"Needed to give you a message."
"My office is down the street mate. You could've just asked for me."
"Not like this," The man sneered and John felt a slight chill go down his spine. "Green says he's watching."
"'Green says'?" John pulled the man to his feet, grabbing at his throat, "And what else does Green say?"
"To leave him and his alone and he'll not do something you'll regret to that pretty little wife of yours."
John let the man go and punched him right on the chin. The man's eyes rolled back into his head and John dusted off his shirt as Talbot came next to him.
"You alright sir?"
"I don't think so." John hauled the man over his shoulders and walked back into the now peaceful bar. He dropped the man on a stool, holding his head and shoulders up. O'Brien's lip twitched and John pointed to the man. "Have you seen him before?"
"I see a lot of faces here Sheriff Bates. Nature of the job."
"And I'm sure you remember them by their drink orders and their frequency." John nodded the man's head in his grip, "What about his habits?"
"Plays cards in the corner on Fridays and spends more than he should on Irish whiskey when beer won't satisfy him. Usually around two in the morning on Saturdays for that before passing out in a corner if he wins unless he stalks off looking for a prostitute or a fight when he loses."
"Who plays cards with him?" Talbot ventured and John could not help but admire the man's quick involvement in the situation.
"They usually order lighter drinks until midnight. I know they come in and clean one another out at cards but I'm only concerned with the money they still have, or don't, to pay for the drinks I serve. I don't pay attention to their faces."
"That's all you know?" John studied O'Brien's face and noticed a slight tremor in her eyebrow before she shrugged.
"About this it is Sheriff."
"Thank you." John bent sideways to lift the man over his shoulders, "Maybe you should put a cap on drinking. Maybe cut off those who seem to angry for conversation or too tipsy to stand straight… just a thought."
"And risk losing money? I don't think so."
John carried the man sideways through the door and to their offices, Talbot just ahead of him to open the doors and the cell. John dropped the man on the cot before pulling the door shut. He sighed and turned to see Talbot smiling.
"What?"
"I guess this is how they welcome newcomers to Kiandra?"
"It's becoming a rather unpleasant pattern, yes."
Anna put her book down when she heard the back door open then close. She heard the one-two beat of boots hitting the floor and smiled to herself as she listened to John's routine. His steps moved to the front door, securing the bolt there, and then around the sitting room and kitchen again before ascending the stairs to meet her.
When his outline filled the doorway Anna put her book aside and smiled at her husband from her chair by the fire. "Eventful day?"
"Very," He dipped to kiss her and Anna ran a hand to the back of his head. John pulled away, staring into her eyes, "But better now that I'm here with you."
"Good." Anna stood, "Because I have a surprise for you."
"Do you?"
Anna danced past him and into the washroom, crooking her finger at him so John followed, unbuttoning his shirt with his brow furrowed. She stepped to the side as John entered the room to see a tub of water half-full.
"What's this?"
"I thought you could use a good soak." Anna motioned to the tub, "You have to get in the water John."
John shucked off his clothes and stepped into the water. His eyes closed and he sighed as he got comfortable in the tub before Anna took a kettle of hot water from the fire and poured it into the lukewarm water of the tub. Anna laughed as John let out another sigh.
"Feeling comfortable, Mr. Bates?"
"This feels wonderful Anna." John let his arms drape over the side of the tub.
"Then I've done my job." Anna added more water and went to walk away but John grabbed her hand.
He stroked the back of it with his thumb before meeting her eyes. "You are an angel to me, Anna. You make me so happy."
"As you do me, John." Anna dipped to kiss him and then squealed as John pulled her into the tub. "John! My nightgown-"
"Will dry on the line after I wash it for you." John settled Anna to face him, "It's just water."
"That's not the point." Anna tried to sound stern but her voice hitched at the end of her statement as John's fingers traveled up her thighs. "The point is this was for you."
"It's more enjoyable with you." Anna kept her eyes on John as his fingers lifted the hem of her soaked nightgown. "I find most things are more enjoyable with you."
"Really?" Anna felt her breathing changing to gasps as John circled lower without breaking eye contact.
"Yes. You're the best friend, partner, wife, and woman that anyone could hope to know." John bent forward to lightly kiss her neck at the exact moment his fingers reached their destination and rubbed in smooth, swift motions. "I think about you when I'm not by your side."
"Me too." Anna's head went back, her eyes closing to relish the sensation of John's masterful hands on her, his lips working concentric rings out from her neck, and the warm water lapping at them.
"Do you want to know what I think about when I'm not with you?" John pressed a kiss to the lowest edge of skin he could reach with the nightgown still in place before sucking at her breast through the wet fabric.
"Yes," Anna moaned and finally used her hands to pull her nightgown over her head, leaving it in a sodden heap on the floor. "What to you think about?"
"I think about how you hold me in your sleep." John slipped a finger inside her and Anna bit her lip. But John moved to kiss her mouth, sucking her lip out of her grasp and nipping it for himself. "I think about how you'll be holding our child in your arms in a few months."
"What else?" Anna's fingers dug into John's shoulders as his fingers increased their speed and movements inside her.
"I think of how you look when I do this. How you taste when I bring you over the edge. And how you sound when you call out my name."
Anna felt herself release and gave John exactly what he imagined with her call of his name. She settled a moment as his fingers drew out of her slowly. His hand moved up but Anna caught it, licking his fingers clean and smiling as his eyes widened.
"Anna?"
"You don't think you're the only one who thinks all day do you?" Anna moved his hand to her waist and ran hers over his arousal now brushing at her center.
"What do you think about Anna?" John's voice dropped half an octave as she ran her hand up and down him, alternating between tight grips and loosely grazing him with her nails.
"I think about how I feel when you've wrapped your arms around me. I think about how you'll rock our baby to sleep." Anna licked her lips, "I think about how I feel when you're inside me or how you taste when I have you at my mercy."
John could not answer. One of his hands tightened at her waist while the other held the side of the tub to keep himself in place as Anna sped up her movements. She smiled to herself before leaning over to whisper in his ear.
"I think a lot about that night by the campfire. When I broke you like one of my stallions." She waited for John's eyes to open, "Do you think about that?"
John's answer was to kiss Anna with as much passion and energy as he could muster before aligning them to sink into her. He rocked up and Anna tightened her legs at his sides to meet his thrusts. Water sloshed over the side of the tub but she hardly cared when she found their rhythm.
Anna kissed at John's neck, tracing along his jaw line as his hands worked over her sides and breasts. For a moment his hand brushed over her stomach, pressing there a moment as if trying to feel for their child, before going back to working over Anna's body. She redirected her kisses to his lips and used one hand at his shoulder to hold him in place.
His breathing changed and Anna felt his thrusts deeper and deeper until he grunted out. Anna sighed with him but a moment later his fingers worked her to the peak again, leaving her breathlessly draped over him. She barely managed to lift her head enough to meet his eyes as he smiled at her.
"Thank you for the bath Mrs. Bates."
"If I'd known this was your plan I would've drawn you a bath a long time ago." Anna kissed him quickly and pulled back, "But now you really do need to wash."
"I'm at your mercy Mrs. Bates." John grinned and Anna pulled the brush closer.
"I do hope so."