-HAPPY 4th OF JULY-
The Trouble with Drifters
Chapter 7: Avoiding the Frying Pan 101
Cassandra talked her uncle's ear off while making their way to Janet's house. He had set Cassie down holding her hand as they weaved in and out of people. The town folk either acted shocked at Cassie's willingness to hold a strangers hand, in their opinion, or a known bounty hunters. Most people stopped and stared while others just walked on by ignoring them with raised noses. Cassie was oblivious to the reactions but he wasn't. Hard looks or a disarming smile did the job in making people look the away leaving them alone much to his preference. Some of Cassandra's friends waved to them while running the opposite way with their dogs barking at them. Murray's boy, Ryac, was with them along with his two dogs.
"Uncle Jon, we have to cross the street now. My house is over there by Momma's work." Cassis said watching men on horses along with wagons and buggies move along the dirt road. Jonathon took note that Janet lived across from the barber shop and next to the local hotel named Empty Arms Hotel (A/N1). He bent down to her level seeing she wasn't keen on crossing the road with all the activity. "Little one, how would you like a piggy back ride?" Cassie's eyes lit up forgetting about the danger nodding enthusiastically.
EARLIER: Sheriff Shanahan came in the office while Cameron was reading his favorite Dime Novel series, Colonel O'Neill & the Ghost Riders. Pete was going on like a lunatic about Mr. Wayne and how he had been made to look like a fool. Cameron let him rant until he heard enough. He heard plenty of rants during his time in the US Calvary. The excuse of patrolling the town allowed him to escape his boss's tirade. That's how Deputy Mitchell happened to be nearby noticing the doctors' daughter with the previously mentioned bounty hunter. Mr. Wayne smartly put the little girl on his shoulders crossing the street without problems. Cassie in her excitement snatched the bounty hunters hat trying it on for size. Comically the hat covered her head having to tip it backwards to see. For unknown reasons Janet's daughter felt at ease with the man. That spoke volumes to the deputy making Pete's rant less than believable.
Cassie caught sight of Cameron half way across the street waving one hand at him, holding onto the hat with the other. He waved back then leaned against a support beam for the awning waiting for them to cross. Mr. Wayne ducked low enough not bang Cassie's head then stepped onto the wooden walk way spurs jingling. Cameron looked at the unlikely pair then grinned. "You've gotten taller since yesterday Miss Frasier." He said making the little girl giggle. "...and your shorter than me now Cam!" Cassie replied making a joke. Cameron chuckled then looked at the bounty hunter. "Mr. Wayne, I'm Deputy Cameron Mitchell, it's a pleasure to meet you." He said speaking honestly. Jonathon gave Cameron a look of disbelief wondering why he was being friendly towards him and not semi-hostile. "Your need to get down Little One, I can't carry you on my shoulders all day now." Cassie protested as bent down so she could get off. He handed the gum balls back to her attempting to grab his hat. The little girl dodged his attempt sticking her tongue out and plopping candy in her mouth. He sighed knowing another hat was lost to his niece. Jonathon then offered to shake the deputy's hand which Cameron did. "Out of curiosity why are you 'not' trying to run me out of town?" He asked taking in his surroundings. "I'm not like Sheriff Shanahan; he's out to prove himself. I don't need to Sir." The deputy answered in a relaxed manner. "What does Shanahan have to prove?" Jonathon asked wanting to know more. "To put it frankly Mr. Wayne after Sheriff Barkly was killed Pete was promoted over me because of Mr. Williams and Mr. Maybourne." Cameron informed him shrugging his shoulders as if it didn't bother him. "Was there any particular reason?" Jonathon asked adding the deputy's information to his list of clues. "Nothing really other than Pete is on good terms with them while I'm not!" He said not offering any further information bidding the bounty hunter and Cassandra a good day. Jonathon didn't know how this clue fit into the puzzle but he'd figure it out. Right now he needed to head to Janet's before she came looking for them.
"Momma, I found Uncle Jon." Cassie yelled opening the front door to their house. "It's about time the two of you showed up." Janet replied coming out of the kitchen wiping her hand on an apron then looked at Jonathon. "What took you so long Jonathan and why does my daughter have a bag of candy?" Janet asked staring down the two, hands on her hips like her daughter did in Carters General store. Before he could answer Cassie started telling her mom everything including the bit about him flirting with Samantha. "So that's why you took so long, flirting with my best friend huh!" She said smirking at Cassie's flustered uncle. "I thought you were going to protect me little One...and we weren't flirting, just talking like adults do." Jonathon said as his niece gave him a toothy grin. Janet just laughed walking over to hug the big oaf.
She remembered the first time meeting him. Janet's sister and brother in-law had just been murdered. Her niece, now daughter had been taken hostage by four criminals as they fled the scene. Then out of nowhere comes a trail beaten cowboy promising to get Cassie back one way or another. That was almost four years ago, a low point in their life. The cowboy returned two days later with an unharmed Cassie and three dead criminals. Not long after that Cassandra and she accepted the bounty hunter into their family despite warnings from numerous people. Thus he became Uncle Jon becoming a big part of their lives.
Cassie sat on her uncle's lap eating apple slices he cut off an apple they were sharing. Loki, Cassie's brown pit-bull, was stretched out under the table snoozing. Jonathon talked with her mother as she silently listened enjoying being near her uncle once again. "Why didn't you come sooner? Did no one tell you where we moved to?" Janet asked wondering why it took so long for him to show up. "The letter you left for me got 'lost' along with people's ability to talk. So I sort of forced the issue with Chris." He answered leaving out the black eye he gave the man, no need for Cassie to hear that. Janet nodded in understanding knowing Jonathon didn't suffer fools. Chris, who ran the post office, didn't like Jonathon giving him the run around whenever possible. He believed bounty hunters only cared about themselves and the money. Chris also believed Jonathon was Janet's beau didn't help matters either; the man's jealously was obvious.
"That was over 8 months ago Jon, was something else going on that stopped you from coming?" Janet asked watching her daughter accept another slice of apple, one of her favorite treats. "The U.S. Calvary needed my tracking expertise to look for some unpleasant folk. I sent letters to you but they never were forwarded." He answered brushing a stay hair from Cassie's eyes as she leaned her head against his shoulder yawning. "Chris always went out of his way to make life hard for you." Janet said from the small kitchen window returning with fresh coffee. She pushed some red locks form her eyes then sat back down at the dining room table. "I won't have to worry about him or anyone else from Harper's Mill(A/N2) because I pulled my money from the bank." He replied getting a smile from Janet knowing what that meant. Cassie turned around to face her uncle looking him in the eye. "Does that mean you're going to buy me a pony for my birthday?" she asked hopefully while her mother mouthed 'Don't you dare mister!'
Jonathon chuckled lightly at the two; off course he wasn't going to buy his niece a pony. However, it would annoy Janet like it did when he gave Loki to Cassie for her birthday last year. "No little one..." He said causing the little girls smile to falter. "...but it does mean I'm going to be working out of Haven from now on." Cassie's smile grew wider hugging her uncle with joy. Her world would be complete now. Daniel will be her new papa and Uncle Jon wouldn't get lost again.
Janet let out a sigh of relief knowing Jonathon was on his way to healing whether he knew it or not. He never flirted with the women of Harper's Mill, didn't pay them much attention. The fact he took interest in Samantha gave her hope for the two. They both deserved to be happy. Pete just wasn't right for her friend; the man was trying to be someone he wasn't.
She watched as Cassie laid her head back down and started to drift off to sleep. Janet nodded for him to follow her as she stood up. He laid his niece down on the bed noticing pink and yellow bedding. Loki jumped up on the bed snuggling next to the little girl then looked up as to say 'Go on, I got this, she's safe with me.' Jonathon kissed her cheek the closed the door behind him as Janet watched. He was married once with a son but Comanche's burnt their house down around them. Jonathon had told her how all reason to live died with them. God may forgive him for not being there but he couldn't forgive himself. Janet suspected that rescuing Cassandra was a form of redemption. The unconditional love of a little girl pulled a man on the edge back to the living that horrible day.
"Okay, now spill Jonathon. Why are you making so much noise?" Janet asked getting serious while refilling their coffee once more. "I got a letter from an old Calvary friend of mine telling me of the problems your having in Haven. He thinks his boss is in on the rustling but can't prove it." He responded taking a drink of Janet's coffee, boy did he miss it. "Does this friend have a name?" she asked running through who this friend might be. "...best you don't know right now Janet. I don't want the two of you to get hurt. You're the only family I have left." His concern for their well being never ceased to amaze her. Part of every bounty collected was given to them. He always insisted never taking a 'no' for an answer. "You're making all this noise to get their attention then. Do you think the rustlers will just ignore the fact you're a known bounty hunter?" Janet asked eyeing him closely thinking. If Jonathon singled out both Pete and Ned whoever is behind the rustling couldn't help but notice. "The ones doing the rustling no, but the higher ups yes. The people pulling the strings will either want me to join them or out of the way." He replied leaning back relaxing in Janet's presence. When she wasn't patching him up all was good. The problem was when patching him up needles came out along with a speech about being careful. Janet didn't want to explain to her daughter why Uncle Jon wasn't going to be around anymore. "Can you tell me if you have any leads yet? I love a good mystery." Janet responded thinking she could help out. "I have several actually, where they fit isn't clear yet. There's no need for you to get involved right now." He answered looking around the house noticing the picture of Cassie and him last Christmas. Janet nodded knowing he'd only ask for help when needed. Jonathon would never put Cassie or her in harm's way. She dropped the topic moving on to more important matters.
"If you don't already have a place to stay I have spare room made up." She said looking pointedly at him. Janet worried about Jonathon a lot so having him close by put her at ease. "I got a room at 'Kings Saloon' right now. The place isn't ideal but that's where I'll find more clues. Maybourne even offered me a job." He said with a chuckle. "I may not like you working for Harry but you are not staying there Jonathon!" Janet said leaving no room for argument. "You'll stay here where I can keep an eye on you. Besides, Cassie needs to know her uncle isn't going anywhere soon." She added using her daughter as leverage. Janet knew it was wrong but she didn't care. Jonathon needed to be around people who loved him, not whores and drunks. "Okay, okay...after tonight I'll move my stuff here. I do have one condition though." Jonathon replied putting his hands up in mock surrender. "What's the condition?" she asked wondering what it might be. "There's bound to be some back lash so I want you to keep my Greener (A/N3) for defense, if needed." He replied leaving no room for argument, two could play this game. "I don't think I'll need it but you have a deal." Janet answered hoping that she was right. She wasn't fond of guns but they weren't the problem. Sheriff Barkly told her once before his death 'Only thing that can stop a bad man with a gun is a good guy with one'. Jonathon looked at the fiery red head surprised but pleased. With those two issues out of the way only one remained. "Now tell me about your fiancée, Cassie's says he's really smart and never shuts up." Janet laughed so hard she spit out her coffee. Once she regained control calmness over came her. Things were going to be alright now that her family was back together. "Daniel is a good man, you'll like him." she said then proceeded to explain why.
A/N1: I couldn't resist, Empty Arms Hotel is from Hee Haw. I grew up watching the show as a young adult.
A/N2: Harper's Mill, Texas changed its name to Alexander in 1881 when Texas Central Railroad came through. Alexander had a population of 381 in 1890-1900 and 200 in 1940. The post office (opened in 1876) closed sometime before 1970. The now ghost town is located 3 miles south of Mcdow, Texas.
A/N3: The W.W. Greener is a sporting shotgun/rifle manufacturer from England. The company produced its first firearm in 1829 and is still in business. The Greener shotgun was a favorite of John Wayne's.
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