Chapter Six

Rain was threatening the next morning, so Jess and Slim got an early start to replace the stage wheel before breakfast.

"Well, look at you," Slim said when Jess came out of the bunkhouse and met up with him by the stage. "Finally cleaned up, huh?"

Jess rubbed his jaw. "Reckoned it was time."

"And avoids scratchin' a lady's face."

Jess threw him an annoyed look. Slim laughed heartily.

As they worked on the wheel, Jess said, "Slim, Kate and I were talkin' 'bout somethin' last night. And, uh, well, we were wonderin' how you'd feel about them stayin' over another night. Can't hardly stand the idea of 'em headin' out already. And if you say it's all right, I'll check with Daisy and Jonesy."

Slim grinned. "No need to ask them. It's fine with them."

"How are ya so sure?"

"Because they both told me last night that they thought I should invite Kathryn and Elizabeth to stay for a few more days. And I told them I'd already planned to."

Jess shook his head and laughed. "Dadgum, hardrock. Seems like everybody 'round here knows all my business b'fore I do."

"Jess, at supper a blind man could'a seen how much you'd want more time with them. And they definitely feel the same way about you." He tossed a hammer into the tool box. "And listen, you haven't taken any time off for months. So you plan on doing the very minimum for work these next few days so you can be with them as much as possible."

"I'll take ya up on that. And I sure do appreciate it."

Andy joined them, and they made their way to the house for breakfast.

Daisy and Jonesy had laid out another great meal. Elizabeth left the book she was looking at with Mike and launched herself into Jess's arms the moment she saw him. The tender look exchanged between Kathryn and Jess spoke volumes, and it was not missed by any of the others in the room.

Jack, one of the other stage drivers, brought the horse Slim had loaned to Mose back to the ranch, tethered to the back of the stage. A younger man, Caleb, sat alongside him, having come along to drive the repaired stage into Laramie. Jack told Slim that he and Mose had switched duties for the next few weeks, and he would be driving this stage route for a while. Jess was relieved to no end to find the very quiet Jack was the one, rather than the talkative Mose, who would be driving the route temporarily. They would have been hard-pressed to keep Mose from spreading the news all over town that the widow lady and her daughter were staying at the Shermans' ranch. Jack wouldn't say a word to anyone, if he even noticed.

Over the next two days, Jess and Kathryn spent so much time together that it was rare to see one without the other. Elizabeth was often with them too, and Daisy looked after her at other times, as she played with Mike.

Jess took Kathryn riding around the ranch. She was thrilled to see him so proud of it all. And she enjoyed being in the saddle again. She hadn't ridden since her mother sold the ranch. When she told Jess that Elizabeth had never been on a horse, the look of abject appalment on his face, gave her a feeling both of shame at her lack of acquainting her daughter with riding and extreme amusement at Jess's overreaction. His expression couldn't have shown more shock if she had told him a twister just took the barn down.

The situation was readily remedied as, when Kathryn later wondered where Elizabeth had disappeared to, she found her outside, sitting on Traveller in front of Jess as they walked around the ranch yard. The child giggled in pure glee, and Jess laughed at how much fun they both were having.

Another time he steadied her as she stood on the corral fence, carefully listening to every detail about the horses he was pointing out to her, and he was thrilled to see her genuine interest in learning about them.

Finally, Kathryn found them again in the ranch yard, with Elizabeth sitting by herself on a bay that looked like Traveller but was smaller. Jess held the lead in one hand and held onto the back of her dress with the other to ensure she didn't fall.

"Look, Mama! I can ride the horse by myself!" Elizabeth called as Kathryn approached them.

Looking sheepish, Jess said, "Hope you don't mind, Kate. This horse is right gentle. And Elizabeth begged me. I couldn't say no."

"I know. It's a word you really need to learn." She smiled, shaking her head. "Well, I can't deny her something I did from the time I was about two, maybe younger." She trusted Jess completely to keep her daughter safely astride.

"She ain't afraid of 'em at all," Jess said proudly. He grinned and turned back to Elizabeth, holding onto her and walking alongside the horse, explaining to her about working the reins.

Kathryn stood by the corral fence watching in total contentment. Momentarily, Slim came from the barn and joined her.

Nodding toward Elizabeth, he said, "I heard what Jess said about Elizabeth not being afraid of the horses. I've just met you two, but I'm beginnin' to wonder if there's anything she's scared of."

"Not that I've discovered yet. If something startles her or hurts her, it doesn't make her afraid. It makes her angry."

Slim laughed. "Sounds like someone else I know."

"She's so much like him," Kathryn said softly, her eyes glistening with affection as she stared at Jess. "That fiery spirit. The sense of adventure and fun. That's one of the things that attracted me to him. Because I was always so serious, so concerned with being proper."

"And that reminds me of yet another person I know," Slim said.

Kathryn looked to him for further explanation.

"Me. I was so focused on nothin' but hard work and responsibilities that it was drivin' a real wedge between Andy and me. Then Jess came along. He's been a good bridge between me and my brother. Jess's humor and ability to find a good time were some things I needed to learn." He glanced down at Kathryn. "But he's still got me beat by a good country mile."

She smiled. "Slim, you've been good for him too. Tamed him a bit. And he needed that." She looked back toward Jess and said pensively, "And he needed a home. I don't just mean a place to live. He needed a place to belong. A family to care for him. Did you know he'd been without that since he was barely fifteen?"

"Yeah, I did," Slim said quietly, an empathetic sadness in his eyes as he, too, looked at Jess.

"I can see he's found that here."

"Yep. He's as much a part of this spread now as I am. And it isn't one-sided, Kathryn. We've needed him as much as he needed us. Not just as a friend. He is family. And I'd have lost the ranch a dozen times over if it weren't for Jess. As much as he likes to cut loose and kick up his heels now and then, I've never met anyone who works harder or knows more about ranchin' than him. And he's loyal as all get-out. He'd do anything for the people that mean somethin' to him, no matter the cost."

A squeal of delight came from Elizabeth, followed by a chuckle from Jess. Kathryn and Slim both enjoyed seeing the camaraderie developing between the two. With a shared smiled between the two of them, Slim returned to the barn, and Kathryn to the house, allowing the father and daughter time to bond further.

The whole family was enjoying lunch when Mort Cory knocked on the door. Slim welcomed him into the home and invited him to join them.

"Thanks, Slim, but I've already eaten. Just came out to share some news. Howdy, everyone."

"Mort, let me introduce you to our guests," Slim said, gesturing toward them, sitting as they had before, with Elizabeth between Kathryn and Jess. "This is Kathryn Barrett and her daughter Elizabeth. Kathryn is a close friend of Jess's. Kathryn, this is our sheriff and a good friend, Mort Cory."

"Hello, Miz Barrett," he said, taking off his hat.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Sheriff Cory."

"You can call me Mort. The boys here are like family to me. So no need to be formal."

Kathryn smiled, then turned to Elizabeth. "Say good afternoon to the sheriff."

"Hello," Elizabeth said, looking up from her plate straight into Mort's eyes.

"Well, hello there. It's–" Mort stopped, looking from the little girl to Jess next to her, and back again to the child. Then back to Jess. Jess shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and Mort quickly switched his gaze back to Elizabeth.

"It's nice to know ya, young lady," he finished awkwardly.

"You said you had some news for us, Mort?" Slim asked.

"Yeah, but how 'bout when you're finished eating, you and Jess join me outside. I'll just go out and wait on the porch till you're ready."

"Well, at least have a seat and a cup of coffee, Mort," Jonesy said, pouring a cup and handing it to him.

Mort accepted the coffee and took a seat across from Jess. As conversation about the ranch and things in general progressed, Jess noticed Mort glanced at Elizabeth a couple of more times, his brow wrinkled in thought.

Soon, Jess and Slim finished lunch and accompanied Mort to the porch.

"I thought it best not to discuss this in front of the children," Mort began.

"Mort, before ya start," Jess interrupted, "there's something I want'a say."

"Sure, Jess."

"I can tell ya been wonderin' somethin' about Elizabeth."

Mort tilted his head down, embarrassed that it had been that obvious that he'd been considering something about the child's appearance.

"And ya don't need to feel uncomfortable about it. I know what you're thinkin'. And the fact is, you're right," Jess continued. "She's my daughter."

It was the first time he'd actually said that out loud, and it gave him a warm, happy, proud feeling.

Mort smiled. "Well, Jess, I have to tell ya. There's a lot about her that resembles you, but those eyes are a pure giveaway."

"They were for all of us, Mort," Slim added, grinning at Jess.

Jess smiled too. Mort was relieved he wasn't upset at the reaction the lawman had unwittingly displayed at the table. "You seem right proud of her, Jess. I can see you're real happy. And nobody deserves some happiness in life more than you."

"Thanks, Mort. And I know you'll keep this news under your hat."

"Of course."

"Now, what's the news you've brought us?" Slim asked.

"It's about those wild Harris boys up Cheyenne way. They robbed another bank, killed a teller and winged a deputy. Next day they hit the stage when it pulled into Marcus Pomeroy's relay station. Killed the shotgun and one of the passengers. Made off with the strongbox. No idea where they are now. I wanted to make sure you boys are on your toes."

Slim furrowed his brow in anger at the thought of the folks who died. "Don't know how they keep gettin' away with this, Mort. From Billings to the Colorado line to clear over at Rapid City. Seems like the law could find 'em easy enough, what with the way they dress. All those bright colors, red boots, ruffled shirts and all. Nobody in these parts looks quite like that. And they ride Appaloosas. Not many of them outside of tribal ownership. Seems like they'd stand out plenty."

"They do. Problem is they disappear after they pull a job and stay outta sight till they suddenly show up somewhere to do it again. They've got to have a good hideout somewhere, or some folks along the way that are covering for 'em."

"Thanks for ridin' out here to tell us, Mort," Jess said. "We'll be watchin' out. Make sure ya let us know if ya hear anything else."

"You know I will." Mort mounted up and tipped his hat before he gently spurred his horse and headed down the road back to Laramie.