"Jimmy!" I cried as Jett and I raced back onto our land. From the field
where our cattle were crazing I saw Jim's head pop up and turn toward us.
"Jaime?" He called back as he headed toward us "Is everything ok?" I slid down from Jett and ran over to him, my insides about ready to burst with happiness.
"Jim, they're finally here!" I gushed grabbing Jim by the arm, laughing as I pulled him toward the barn. "They're alive, they're back!" It took a moment for my rush of words to settle into Jim, but as I pulled him toward his horse, Bullet, I saw a smile alight on his face.
"Cole and Bob?" He asked eagerly. I nodded as he grabbed me up in another swinging hug and whooped with joy. "Well where are they?" He asked excitedly as he set me down. By this time I was getting a little dizzy and made a note to myself to teach my brothers a new way to hug me.
"They had to go to talk to Doc. Mimms, but Frank and Jesse are with them, as well as an Indian friend named Tom, we're gonna meet them over at the James' place so come on!" I explained hurriedly. With that, Jim jumped onto Bullet bareback, and followed Jett and I out of the barn. The James' only lived a few miles from us and soon enough we were knocking on the door to their little farmhouse.
"Coming!" called the cheery voice of Ma James, she was the perfect mothering type, always warm and bubbly, and ready to feed, hug, or hit you, whatever the situation called for. Since our parents had died, she had taken on us Younger kids as an extension of her small brood. Because of that we called each other cousins.
"Why Jim and Jamie, how wonderful to see you!" She said as she opened the door. "How are you two faring over there at your farm? Do you get enough to eat? Come sit down I just finished cooking some lovely rolls I would love you to sample." And without waiting for us to answer she bustled us into her kitchen.
"Thank you ma'am" said Jim as he helped himself to the food she set in front of him "But we came to deliver some news." At this Ma James froze
"Is it about my boys?" She asked nervously looking from me to Jim.
"Yes ma'am" I said quickly not wanting her to get the wrong idea. "Well all of them your boys and our brothers are home! Isn't it wonderful?"
"Lord be praised!" She said as she clasped her hands to her chest and began to cry. Just then we heard the approach of a group of horses and Ma James bustled out the front door and we could hear her squeal as she finally got a hold of Frank and Jesse. Jim and I waited impatiently for the group to enter the house, but not wanting to spoil Ma James' moment.
Finally they all came bursting in, looking eagerly at the table shouting about how much they had missed good home cooking. Now that Jesse was home he was laughing and talking with the rest of the boys, and I could feel my face grow hot as I looked at his deep eyes once again. Lord how he had grown since I had last seen him, he had been a kid just like me, but now.. I ducked away from the group to avoid those eyes and busied myself by helping Ma James whip up a feast for the returned heroes.
The boys were describing all of their war stories to Jim, and I could see his face lighten up with the desire to do great things like his brothers. I shook my head at this, adventure was well and good, but I could never understand a man's desire to kill.
"And who turned out to be the best shot of us all but the runt, Jesse!" proclaimed Bob proudly
"I ain't the best." Said Jesse humbly pushing Bob playfully "Frank's the one that can always hit his mark."
"True enough, but I'm not crazy enough to run straight into a line of enemy troops, kill the whole lot and live to tell the tale." Frank responded smiling at his little brother. "So you're the best at doing all the stupid stuff and living." They all had a good laugh at this including Jesse.
"So Jaime how about we step outside and you show me what you did to my horse." Came Cole's voice over the laughter. I froze over the dishes that I was cleaning as the chuckles behind me died down. Slowly I turned to face them, noticing that everyone but Cole had found something to stare at on the tabletop and Ma James had excused herself to her bedroom. Cole stood and walked over to the doorway, holding the door open for me. With a pleading look at Jim, I walked over to Cole and ducked under his arm without looking at him. No one said anything; I could tell they were all pretending to concentrate on something while trying to really listen to what was happening to me.
Cole led the way to the barn and once again held the door open for me. Once inside he strode over to the place where I had hitched up Jett and began to look him over carefully. I stood a few feet off, staring at the ground and nervously twisting my skirt around in my fingers.
"Well fed, well groomed, and well trained." He muttered as walked around Jett and came over to me. I did not move
"And it's the third part that disturbs me." He said sternly "You were not to touch this horse Jaime, is that true?"
"Yes sir"
" I put down that rule for your safety and for the horses well being. He is too strong of a creature to be in the hands of a girl. Now explain to me why you broke your word to me and my trust by taming him." Still looking at the ground I drew in a shaky breath and tried to keep my voice steady as I answered him.
"I wasn't sure when you were coming back-"
"So my undetermined return gives you leave to disobey me?"
"No sir, but he was growing up so wild, and the news of the war never gave us much hope, he was a beauty with a lot of potential, I had grown, I thought I could manage the horse. I fell in love with him sir, I had to try. We sort of grew up together without you. I thought you would be proud of how well mannered he is. I'm sorry Cole." My words drifted off with no immediate response. I just stood there, anxiously waiting for what would happen next.
"Well..." He said slowly as if concluding some thought process. " I can't deny the amazing condition that you both are in. And you have made me proud, both by developing into such a fine young woman and bringing up the horse just as good as I could have done." At this I raised my head to look up into his eyes, he was smiling down at me.
"But you did disobey me, that cannot be overlooked."
"Yes sir " I said once again dropping my gaze
"So how about I take Jett for a month and you can spend that time, helping recover old Kirby to his normal health. Our years in the war really took the spark out of him." He placed his hand under my chin and tipped it up so that I was looking him directly in the eyes. "Do we have an agreement?"Smiling up at him and gave him a grateful grin and hugged him tight.
"Yes sir"
"Glad that's over with." He sighed, now lets go back inside, everyone's probably thinking I'm beating you raw. With a laugh we both headed back inside my arm safely tucked into Cole's.
"Jaime?" He called back as he headed toward us "Is everything ok?" I slid down from Jett and ran over to him, my insides about ready to burst with happiness.
"Jim, they're finally here!" I gushed grabbing Jim by the arm, laughing as I pulled him toward the barn. "They're alive, they're back!" It took a moment for my rush of words to settle into Jim, but as I pulled him toward his horse, Bullet, I saw a smile alight on his face.
"Cole and Bob?" He asked eagerly. I nodded as he grabbed me up in another swinging hug and whooped with joy. "Well where are they?" He asked excitedly as he set me down. By this time I was getting a little dizzy and made a note to myself to teach my brothers a new way to hug me.
"They had to go to talk to Doc. Mimms, but Frank and Jesse are with them, as well as an Indian friend named Tom, we're gonna meet them over at the James' place so come on!" I explained hurriedly. With that, Jim jumped onto Bullet bareback, and followed Jett and I out of the barn. The James' only lived a few miles from us and soon enough we were knocking on the door to their little farmhouse.
"Coming!" called the cheery voice of Ma James, she was the perfect mothering type, always warm and bubbly, and ready to feed, hug, or hit you, whatever the situation called for. Since our parents had died, she had taken on us Younger kids as an extension of her small brood. Because of that we called each other cousins.
"Why Jim and Jamie, how wonderful to see you!" She said as she opened the door. "How are you two faring over there at your farm? Do you get enough to eat? Come sit down I just finished cooking some lovely rolls I would love you to sample." And without waiting for us to answer she bustled us into her kitchen.
"Thank you ma'am" said Jim as he helped himself to the food she set in front of him "But we came to deliver some news." At this Ma James froze
"Is it about my boys?" She asked nervously looking from me to Jim.
"Yes ma'am" I said quickly not wanting her to get the wrong idea. "Well all of them your boys and our brothers are home! Isn't it wonderful?"
"Lord be praised!" She said as she clasped her hands to her chest and began to cry. Just then we heard the approach of a group of horses and Ma James bustled out the front door and we could hear her squeal as she finally got a hold of Frank and Jesse. Jim and I waited impatiently for the group to enter the house, but not wanting to spoil Ma James' moment.
Finally they all came bursting in, looking eagerly at the table shouting about how much they had missed good home cooking. Now that Jesse was home he was laughing and talking with the rest of the boys, and I could feel my face grow hot as I looked at his deep eyes once again. Lord how he had grown since I had last seen him, he had been a kid just like me, but now.. I ducked away from the group to avoid those eyes and busied myself by helping Ma James whip up a feast for the returned heroes.
The boys were describing all of their war stories to Jim, and I could see his face lighten up with the desire to do great things like his brothers. I shook my head at this, adventure was well and good, but I could never understand a man's desire to kill.
"And who turned out to be the best shot of us all but the runt, Jesse!" proclaimed Bob proudly
"I ain't the best." Said Jesse humbly pushing Bob playfully "Frank's the one that can always hit his mark."
"True enough, but I'm not crazy enough to run straight into a line of enemy troops, kill the whole lot and live to tell the tale." Frank responded smiling at his little brother. "So you're the best at doing all the stupid stuff and living." They all had a good laugh at this including Jesse.
"So Jaime how about we step outside and you show me what you did to my horse." Came Cole's voice over the laughter. I froze over the dishes that I was cleaning as the chuckles behind me died down. Slowly I turned to face them, noticing that everyone but Cole had found something to stare at on the tabletop and Ma James had excused herself to her bedroom. Cole stood and walked over to the doorway, holding the door open for me. With a pleading look at Jim, I walked over to Cole and ducked under his arm without looking at him. No one said anything; I could tell they were all pretending to concentrate on something while trying to really listen to what was happening to me.
Cole led the way to the barn and once again held the door open for me. Once inside he strode over to the place where I had hitched up Jett and began to look him over carefully. I stood a few feet off, staring at the ground and nervously twisting my skirt around in my fingers.
"Well fed, well groomed, and well trained." He muttered as walked around Jett and came over to me. I did not move
"And it's the third part that disturbs me." He said sternly "You were not to touch this horse Jaime, is that true?"
"Yes sir"
" I put down that rule for your safety and for the horses well being. He is too strong of a creature to be in the hands of a girl. Now explain to me why you broke your word to me and my trust by taming him." Still looking at the ground I drew in a shaky breath and tried to keep my voice steady as I answered him.
"I wasn't sure when you were coming back-"
"So my undetermined return gives you leave to disobey me?"
"No sir, but he was growing up so wild, and the news of the war never gave us much hope, he was a beauty with a lot of potential, I had grown, I thought I could manage the horse. I fell in love with him sir, I had to try. We sort of grew up together without you. I thought you would be proud of how well mannered he is. I'm sorry Cole." My words drifted off with no immediate response. I just stood there, anxiously waiting for what would happen next.
"Well..." He said slowly as if concluding some thought process. " I can't deny the amazing condition that you both are in. And you have made me proud, both by developing into such a fine young woman and bringing up the horse just as good as I could have done." At this I raised my head to look up into his eyes, he was smiling down at me.
"But you did disobey me, that cannot be overlooked."
"Yes sir " I said once again dropping my gaze
"So how about I take Jett for a month and you can spend that time, helping recover old Kirby to his normal health. Our years in the war really took the spark out of him." He placed his hand under my chin and tipped it up so that I was looking him directly in the eyes. "Do we have an agreement?"Smiling up at him and gave him a grateful grin and hugged him tight.
"Yes sir"
"Glad that's over with." He sighed, now lets go back inside, everyone's probably thinking I'm beating you raw. With a laugh we both headed back inside my arm safely tucked into Cole's.