"Mark!" Luke ran down the street and picked up his son out of the dirt, holding him tightly.
"I'm all right, Pa!" The boy had been knocked down by a horse going much too fast for town. "I just got winded."
His father put him down, then turned on the rider, snarling, "Mister, you better be real happy you didn't hurt that boy."
The rider observed Luke with a cool expression. He was young, with blond hair and the soft pale look of someone who had never done a day's work in the sun. "I apologize, sir. I'm not used to horses."
Luke resisted the impulse to drag the man out of the saddle. "If that's the case you shouldn't be on one!"
"Oh, I shall be more careful in the future. My name is Quinn. And you are?"
The sheer effrontery of the man silenced Luke with indignation but Mark spoke up. "This is my pa, Lucas McCain. And I'm Mark."
"Your father is certainly protective of you, young man." Quinn smirked. "Perhaps you'd like to keep him safe no matter what, Mr McCain?"
Luke found his voice. "Do you have children?"
"Why, no." Quinn looked thoughtful. "In fact, no one in my...err...circle has children."
"Then you don't know what it's like to want to protect them."
"No, but…" Quinn beamed. "I take it you would like to keep this boy safe from all harm?"
"That's right." Luke glared. "I wish he never had to feel any pain at all."
"Granted!" Quinn waved his hand. "And now I must ride on. No doubt I'll be seeing both of you again."
He spurred his horse to a gentle walk and Luke scowled as he watched him leave. The man had irritated him so much that he was suddenly having trouble catching his breath. "Mark, go to school. You'll be late."
"No, I won't!" The boy took off running as if he hadn't just had the wind knocked out of him and his father smiled to see him go.