Chapter Six
Overland's territory superintendent and I have drained the coffee pot. And that's not going to sit well with the blue-shirted man who's just swung open the door to the house.
"Mr. Frazer. What are you doin' here?" Jess asks as he steps inside. Realizing how impolite that sounds, he immediately corrects himself. "I mean, is there anything I can help ya with, sir?"
He closes the door behind him and, looking kinda apprehensive, asks Mr. Frazer, "Am I in trouble?..." Then, glancing my way, he adds under his breath, "…again?"
Mr. Frazer is trying his best to fix a hard glare at him.
Jess is frowning and beginning to look downright bothered. And I can't tell if it's because he's worried or because he's beginning to feel angry at the judgment he feels coming from Mr. Frazer. But I can tell he's searching his memory for whatever indiscretion he must have committed to pull the stage line boss's ominous mood his way. And I'm having a hard time keeping a straight face, as I see Jess can't latch onto a single thing he's done wrong. Because there hasn't been one. Not this time.
Finally, Mr. Frazer can't hold it in any longer. He slaps the table and roars with laughter. My mouth opens wide as I join in the chuckling.
"You aren't in trouble, Jess. You haven't done a gall-durned thing wrong, son," Mr. Frazer manages to gasp between guffaws. "Far as I hear tell, you did just about everything right you possibly could have. Sit down here and have some coffee with us, you wild Texas scoundrel."
Jess gauges Mr. Frazer for a moment, then shoots a somewhat annoyed squint my way, before a big grin finally relaxes his jaw. He pulls out a chair and swings his leg over it, just as I head to the kitchen.
As I make more coffee, I can hear Mr. Frazer alternating between congratulating Jess and quizzing him on how he figured things out. I'm filled with pride for my pard.
We can sure count on those protective instincts and reactions of his. They kick in strong enough when grown men are at risk. But they're heightened beyond measure if there's a child in danger. And it's the same if it's a lady.
I'm standing here, arms folded and a smile on my face, waiting for the hot water to brew our coffee. I'm thinking about it all again and just shaking my head.
Those senses of his always do work great. But… when it comes to Jess and women… they're downright amazing.
— The End —