Micah wanted to go to his office, but in deference to Miss Bertie he led the group over to the Madera and took a table against the far wall. "All right, let's have it."
"Have what?" Miss Bertie looked confused. "Marshal, you seem disturbed."
"You bet I'm disturbed!" Micah looked narrowly at Jennings. "You make us think you came here for revenge on Miss Bertieā¦"
"I did no such thing," said Jennings coolly. "You and Luke here jumped to the wrong conclusions. I just let you go on thinking what you wanted to think."
"Oh, Mr Jennings." Miss Bertie shook her head. "Why didn't you just tell them I invited you here?"
"You invited him!" Luke was startled.
"Why, yes, Mr McCain. You see, six months ago I decided to take your advice and open a little place in Santa Fe to sell my apple pie. And no sooner had I gotten it up and running than a letter came from the warden at Leavenworth, informing me that the reward on Mr Jennings had been offered in error. I was afraid I would have to return the money but nothing was said about that."
"That's because I paid it." Jennings lit a cigar and blew out a smoke ring.
"And just where did you get that kind of money?" asked Micah suspiciously.
"Bounty hunting." Jennings blew more smoke rings. "The warden told me Miss Bertie would have to return the money, so I made a deal with him. I would pick up wanted men for him until the two thousand dollars was paid off."
"You didn't have to do that," Miss Bertie shook her head. "I would have paid my debt."
"Oh, I know." Jennings grinned. "But you must admit it was easier this way. You got to build up your place, and I got to practice being a law-abiding citizen."
"Law-abiding!" scoffed Luke.
"Now, Mr McCain, that's no way to talk," said Miss Bertie severely. "Repentance is sorrow converted into action; into a movement toward a new and better life. Mr Jennings has taken that first step into a new and better life. Don't you believe in second chances?"
Mark blurted indignantly, "My pa says everybody deserves a second chance!" Luke gave him a look and he subsided.
"Thank you, Mark." Jennings waved his cigar. "I wanted a second chance very much, so when the warden wrote to Miss Bertie, I asked for her address and wrote to her myself."
"You mean you've been in touch even before you came back to North Fork, Jennings?" Luke rubbed his forehead.
"Well, you didn't think it was just a strange coincidence that we both came to North Fork at the same time, did you?" Miss Bertie smiled complacently. "Mr Jennings and I have been writing to each other for months and when I said I was going to visit North Fork, we arranged to meet."
"You might have told us, Jennings!" Micah's face was like a thundercloud.
"You didn't ask, marshal."
"Mr Jennings, I don't appreciate you making our reunion the subject of a practical joke!" Miss Bertie said sternly.
He looked abashed. "I promise not to do it again."
She patted his hand. "In that case, I forgive you. Now, who wants lunch?"
