Howdy ya'll. I know it's been a while but I've been on vaction. I just finished this and I oughta warn you there's some serious curseing and racism. Not from Adam or Jace but it's still there. It was like that back then you know. Enjoy.
The next morning Adam was up before dawn. He had thought about it all night long, all the possibilities and there was no escaping it. Jason was his son and he had to leave. Adam was tempted to stay, but he felt they'd be better off with out him.
Adam had hoped to avoid Jace, but she was already up. He half expected her to say something but she just looked at him and shook her head sadly. He walked out the door across the yard and into the barn. There he began saddling up his horse.
What are you doing? Adam thought. You're leaving a beautiful woman, the mother of your son. Are you crazy? You could be happy here
Out of the corner of his eye his watched a large dog amble out of the shadows. It eyed him warily. They'll be safer without me. Jason needs a father who isn't being chased by renegade confederates who think he has their money. Deep in his heart Adam knew he was just justifying the situation, but he'd made up his mind and there was no going back.
With his horse saddled, Adam left the barn followed by the large dog. The sun was just showing it's light over the horizon. Jace stood on the porch cup of coffee in hand watching him. There was an awful oppressive silence in the air.
"Leavin' then." Jace said after awhile.
Adam simply nodded his head. He did not trust himself to speak.
Jace held out the cup of coffee. "Ah thought you might like somethin' warm before you left." Adam took the cup gratefully.
After a couple moments of awkward silence, Adam returned the cup. Jace took it carefully and said, "Ah guess this is good bye then."
All Adam could think to say was "Yes." His tone was calm and level. It did not betray the unsettled feeling he had in the pit of his stomach.
Adam mounted his horse and took one last look at her. Jace looked back at him with tears in her eyes.
By 10 o'clock Adam reached town. He was immediately confronted with a saloon and was seriously tempted to go in and ordered a beer. But his better senses won out and Adam went to the saloon's adjoining restaurant and ordered the special.
At a near by table a group of men were talking loudly. One of them a large scared fellow with a face like the side of a cliff asked loudly, "Well, Laurent, you goin' t' the Shimek place today?"
A very pretty young man answered him, "That's correct, Wilson. That bitch has made a fool of me for the last time." His tone was so genteel and his words so packed with hatred that it took Adam a second to realize that the woman he was speaking of was Jace. So this was the Laurent that Jace had mistaken Adam for. She certainly had ample reason not to wary of strangers in the night.
"You wan' us t' widju, Laurent?" Another man at the table asked. "Ah heared that Shimek gurl is mighty handy wid a shootin' iron."
"No, Bailey, I think I can handle Miss Shimek." Laurent then smiled in a way that made Adam want to knock him across the floor. "I have it all worked out."
"If'n you say so, Laurent. But she got a lota friends in that Czech town and wid them meskins." The man called Bailey said, still wary.
Laurent snorted. "I'll get away with. Everybody she nothing but a half breed nigger lover." Adam gripped his silverware tightly.
Wilson smiled vilely, "Tha's righ' ain't it. Ha! I heared from a feller in town that lil' brat o' hers ain't got no father." Adam slammed his fist flat on the table, but those three did not seem to notice. "Lil' bastard that's what he is."
A chair scratched the floor as Laurent stood. "Well, boys, wish me luck. I'm going to get myself a ranch."
Adam started after him, hoping to follow at a safe distance. That man seemed to hold only ill will toward Jace and Adam could not leave her to deal with that alone. That was his son they had just called a bastard and Adam could not let that stand.
At the door of the restaurant Adam was stopped by a waitress with a nervous twitch. "Mister you forgot t' pay."
"What? Oh How much is it?" Adam asked impatiently.
"Fifteen cents, mister." The waitress said.
Adam dug in his pocket for cash. He pulled out a fifty-cent piece and stuck in her hand. "Here, keep the change."
As he hurried out of the restaurant, Adam heard the waitress call, "Thanks mister." Adam looked anxiously up and down the street. Laurent was gone, but Adam knew where he was going. He mounted up and nudged his horse down the street. With any luck he'd get there in time to save her.