Chapter 44

A/N Brand names contained herein are Registered Trademarks of their respective owners.

June 28, 1912

Jesse wakes up the next morning, feeling sore and stiff after a long night on the floor. Usually, he was used to conditions as these, but today, it felt like the floor was too hard for him. He cracked his back, then winced in pain, as the wooden floor gave its own sort of pain beneath him. Fabrizio was the first to get up. He rolled over, and saw Jesse trying to pop his back out while he was still sitting on the floor. Fabrizio looked at Jesse with worry, as he slowly stood up. Karl was the last to get up, then sees Fabrizio trying to pull Jesse up from the floor. He quickly put his arms under Jesse's arms, and Fabrizio puts his feet in front of Jesse's, and together they slowly pull him off the floor.

"Buongiorno, bell'uomo, Jesse! (good morning, handsome Jesse)" Fabrizio cheerfully says, trying to hide his worry. "Com'è la tua notte (How was your night?)."

"Not very good." Jesse says, still trying to crack his back.

"Huono Jesse! (Poor Jesse!)" Karl says sadly, kneeling down next to him. "Haluan minut auta sinä? (is there anything I can help)"

"No, no. I got this." Jesse says, placing his hand on Karl's shoulder, and gave him that small smile again, like he did back at Southampton, before boarding the Titanic. Karl immediately got nervous again. Soon, Fabrizio, Karl and Jesse prepared breakfast, after Jesse got the fire going in the potbellied stove, and he felt better once he got moving again. Both Fabrizio and Karl were relieved once more.

While they were busy putting away the breakfast, they heard a car putter in the dirt drive as it approached the house. Karl looks out the window.

"They're back." Karl says, as Fabrizio was done putting the simple dishes in the sink, then realizes there was no water connection to the house, as he tried to turn on the primitive faucets. Soon, Jack, Rose and Jesse's father entered the house. Mr. Williams had the habit of hanging his hat onto the tree, until he realized too late his hat was on the floor. Everyone laughed, while Jesse appeared from nowhere, his hand holding up his hair away from his eyes while he made his way across the porch.

"Yeah! Laugh it up, kids!" Mr. Williams snapped, then picks up his hat, beating it against his leg. He throws it on the night stand, leaving it only inches from the edge. He cleared his throat "What do you say we see Jesse in action today?" Jesse looked up, surprised. He nervously laughed.

"Yeah, right…" Jesse says nervously, putting his hand at the nape of his neck. He wasn't expecting to go back to work so soon, not what had happened since the tragedy. But he knew work began slowing since his absence, as people specifically asked for him often, on the more complicated problems, or to help out at the general store every now and then. Everyone got in the car, while Mr. Williams drove, and everyone sat in the back, including Jesse, as he sat between Rose and Fabrizio, and Jack wrapping his arms around her.

They arrived at the place, as Jack gave a small chuckle.

"The real work is in the back." Mr. Williams thumbed. They stood in front of Williams General and Hardware Store. There were only a couple of cars parked alongside carriages and horses tied to poles, and people bringing out merchandises to their carriages, or horses that were tied to the front. It truly felt like the past meeting the present.

"My father, Jesse's grandfather, built this store about a year or so before Jesse was born. Back then, we only sold textiles, candlesticks, and small food items, mostly to local Indians. Sort of like a trading post, if you will. Together, with Tomás, we have grown into what you see here. We have a mechanic shop that we have just opened last year, as people began buying the cars and shipping them here by train. Jesse's one of few around here who knows how to work on them new-fandangle things more than I do, and he teaches the men back there on how to work on them." Mr. Williams says, proudly patting his youngest son on his back.

They entered the building, as it looked large from the inside. Somewhere a meat was being cut, while a couple of Pueblos shopped for supplies they needed. Jesse's father excitedly showed them the various Native American arts and crafts that were displayed, along with a giant rug, that were either brought in from places they had never heard, places that were called Santa Fe, Gallup, or from various reservations nearby. Even Indians came regularly to barter, in exchange for goods at the store. Jack craned his neck at the stucco-lined building, which was built with modern slabs of wood, with columns that came from nearby forests. Beams of wood holding the columns and the roof also came from the forests. On shelves as he passed, he saw familiar names like Clabber Brand, Arm and Hammer Soda, Gold Metal Flour, and C.A. Pillsbury & Co. among other things. A pang of sadness almost came to him. He remembered his mother using those same ingredients when she was preparing dinner every night. Especially the Pillsbury, and sometimes the Gold Medal, when his mother used to make those soft biscuits and bread. The rest of the foodstuff in there were in names he never heard of, or were written in Spanish, as he assumed it was local. The other shelves contained feed in bags, salt blocks for livestock, kerosene oil and lamps, used Army surplus, lard, sugar, among other things. Even small batches of firewood were sold in there, next to a small iron stove that was on sale. They entered the hardware section of the store. There, they found saddles, ropes, raw building materials, Mexican blankets, old-fashioned cowboy hats, chaps, wagon supplies, fuel, and a separate floor for tools. This store reminded him of being back at Chippewa Falls once more, as the building was constructed in a similar manner, but only smaller, and made to look like a log cabin. His father once told him that it also served people of the Pony Express, and those who were looking for opportunities out west. He began to feel a pang of sadness once more.

"This is more of Jesse's specialty. I have him help here at times. The ladies always have a field day with him working here." His father gave a light chuckle, then pointed to a small table and bench that were near the entrance. Patrons looked up. Soon, the store is abuzz that Jesse had returned from his travels.

"News travels fast here. He's well known out here. Especially among the Pueblo and the Navajo. My eldest son Matthew back in New York wanted him to work there, as Jesse was excellent with his hands and brain. We even have a man come here a few times, to check on him, and to offer him a job, not only for the White Star, but also for other car repair shops back in Europe, on behalf of one of his colleagues at the train yard. I was hoping he got a job there, until the tragedy, but I didn't know he boarded…" Mr. Williams sniffed back a sob. He took a deep breath, as they somberly passed by a miniature drug store that was built into the hardware store. Soon Jesse entered the hardware store from the shop, tying on an apron. He looked up, surprised, and was halfway done tying his apron.

"Father…" he says, clearing his throat, then swallows, with one eye looking at him, the other completely obscured by his hair. The place suddenly fell silent. Customers stared in shock at first, at the young man standing near the door that led to the back lot, as he slowly finished tying his apron, and not moving his hair from his eye. Soon, the store erupted in cheers that Jesse had indeed returned from his trip from Europe. He mowed his way through the crowds, as he rolled his sleeves up, and got to work behind the counter. Jack was awed, as Jesse fulfilled customers' orders in a swift manner, taking his pencil from his ear and pointing it around, as if he were at an auction, then writing something in the little pad that was next to an old-fashioned mechanical register. Everyone in the store, and the small town, knew who Jesse was, simply the fact he never moved his hair away from his eyes. How Jesse can see while his hair is always over his eyes is Jack's guess, as he tried it for himself. It felt unnatural; his vision blurred, and he almost stumbled. He was only used to strands falling over his eyes once in a while, but nothing like Jesse; he could go for days with one or both of his eyes covered.

Does it bother him sometime? Jack wondered, as he finally snaps back to reality. Jesse was bending over a shelf, with a customer standing next to him, who was speaking in a language Jack had never heard before. He pulled his pad out from the apron's pocket, flips through the pages, then looks around, his hair barely covering one eye again. He tapped the pencil against the pad, and his mouth was slightly hung open. Jack thought he could see Jesse had a slight double chin, even with his graceful slender neck, with a protruding adam's apple, and his shirt had a couple buttons undone. He pushed his hair aside, then swung around and disappeared into the general store, just as before another customer walked up to Jack, thinking he was also an employee there. He nervously looked around. Fabrizio, Karl, Rose and Jesse's father were nowhere to be found. He asked where he would find a shawl. Jack wished Jesse was here, as the man began to look frustrated with him. Soon, Jesse arrived, with a large bag of feed slung over his small shoulder, and seemingly carried it with almost no effort. He and the man went back to the counter to ring him, until he saw Jack, with an angry-looking customer.

"Excuse me for a moment." Jesse says, taking the pencil off his ear, and setting it down on the counter, along with the pad, then runs to where Jack was. To defuse the situation, Jesse asked the man what he needed, and told him he needed a simple shawl.

"Right this way, good sir." Jesse led the man into the general store. Soon he emerged, and going back to the register. As Jack was leaving, he heard the clacking of the register, as people slowly flocked to Mr. Williams' store and shop.

Jack sat at the steps, nodding his head as patrons entered the store, and smoking a cigarette. Later, Jesse emerged from the store, as he earned himself a free Coke and joined Jack at the steps, as work finally slowed. Jack took a drag, then handed Jesse the cigarette. He gave Jack a small frown.

"I've been meaning to ask…how do you get used to your hair covering your eyes all the time?" Jack finally asks.

Jesse laughs, and as if on cue, his hair falls over his eyes, but not completely obscured. "Since I was in Europe, after the Olympic lost that propeller blade, I grew out my hair. No, actually, I have been having my hair like this since I was in school, which I finished at the top. After finishing school, I cut off my hair, which has been almost two years now, and maintained my short hair for some time. Occasionally, a strand or two comes and pokes my eyes, even then, I've gotten used to them as well. What I'm trying to say, is…" Jesse looks at Jack, his hair completely covering both eyes, then flicked his head, successfully covering one eye now. "It takes some getting used to. Yours are longer than mine; you should be used to it by now."

"But it feels unnatural. I almost lost my vision back there."

"I've seen you, sometimes with one eye covered…"

"But, still…" Jack takes a drag once more, and Jesse takes a sip of his Coke. Jack held out his hand. Jesse hands Jack the soda, before spitting out his tobacco. He took a long drink, then hands it back to Jesse.

"So, what's it like out here, on a day-to-day basis?" Jack asks, taking another drag of his cigarette, before hawking.

"We've just become a state, hopefully we get more people to come here, to see what truly wonderful people we have here. But sometimes its hard to keep business afloat, most people just pass on by, even we got robbed, twice, back in 1910, and almost once last year. I guess stories like Billy the Kid and other outlaws, even 'wild Indians' as they call them, have kept people from coming out here. It was truly a wild west then. I remember reading in the paper that New Mexico Territory was just too wild to ever become a state, and some have even scoffed at the idea of us ever becoming a state, that we're just 'too wild for them'. As for living out here, it gets hot occasionally, like right now, and we do get winters, au contraire to what most people say out there."

Jesse put the bottle to his lips, then swung his head back. Jack couldn't help himself now, as he began to watch Jesse drink the remaining soda from the bottle, then watching his adam's apple bob as he swallowed. Jesse finished his soda, and looked at Jack, and gave him a small dimpled-smile, as a gentle, hot breeze fluttered his hair. Jack blushed, then turned his head away in embarrassment. Jack's eyes were soon fixated to a small orange kitten as it walked up to Jesse. It sat down, looked up at Jesse, then gave a small meow, and brushed itself on his leg.

"Hey there, little fella." Jesse says, reaching down to give the kitten a good neck rub. The kitten closed its eyes, clearly enjoying the rubbing, as it purred softly. It brushed itself on Jesse's pant leg once more, then meowed.

"So, what are you plans now?" Jesse asked, still petting the small kit, as Jack flinched a bit.

"Well, I was thinking…" Jack began.

"I heard there's an opening down at the local marshal's office for a sketch artist. You can check there."

"How do you…"

"News travels in there." Jesse says, thumbing back at the building, then brushes his hair from his eyes, while the cat still bats and swatted at Jesse's fingers. "This place is our source for news and gossip, and sometimes, employment opportunities. Local, mostly."

"What about Fabrizio and…"

"He heard. And he's going to give it a try. We're slowly growing, and that's a good sign." Jesse says, as he looked at his small but growing town, then at a man leading a horse and wagon full of hay, as he passed their business. The man gave a knowing wave, and Jesse returned, and smiled. The kitten wriggled out of Jesse's grip, and soon got up, then ran after a small butterfly. They watched as a large calico-colored cat, assuming it to be the mother, came and put its mouth to the kitten's nape, and carried it away, behind the store. He then looked up, shielding and squinting his eyes from the bright sun.

"Well, time for me to go back in." he says, getting up to go back in the store. Jack soon followed, jamming his hands in his pockets.

Jack approached the shop, as the sounds of hammers and cursing came from there. He stopped at the entrance, and leaned against a heavily modified Reliance Motors (predecessor to the modern GMC brand est. later after the Titanic disaster) delivery truck, with a front wheel that had been removed. A man stood in front of the tire, trying incessantly to install the rubber onto the wooden spokes. He had been going on for some time, while the driver waited impatiently.

"C'mon! C'mon! I'm losing money here!" he shouted. Soon, Jesse appeared, with metal rods in his hands. Jack didn't like the direction this was going, but he had to watch. The two of them were discussing something, just by watching their hand gestures. Jesse shook his head, then inserted the rods between the rubber and the wheel. With the man holding onto the rubber, Jesse pulls the rods, and the tire dropped onto the wheel. Soon, he was done, and all he needed to do was put the wheel back on the truck and send the man on his way, while Jesse disappeared into a dark room.

"There's another born every minute!" one of the men laughs.

"Hey, quit it with those Barnum jokes!" Another yelled from somewhere in the back of the shop, but wasn't from Jesse's voice. "At least he's learnin' somethin'!"

Jesse soon emerges with a dark pair of bulky goggles, then puts them on. He picked up a flint, then sparks it to the welding tip, as it popped loudly.

"Whoa! What the hell!" Jesse's voice was heard in the back of the shop. But he managed to get the flame adjusted right, despite the popping. He positions himself, preparing to cut a piece of sheetmetal. He cut the metal, then smoothing the rough edges with a file, before handing it to a customer. He came back inside the shop, with the goggles now holding his beautiful hair up, and his face had a small smudge of dirt. Jesse smiled at his colleagues, before going back out to check on a horse carriage that had a broken wheel.

It was a long day, but Jesse felt better being back at work once more. Soon, it was time to close up shop, as Jesse went over the inventory in both stores, after closing the garage for the day. Mr. Williams watched as his son tallied everything throughout the store, including the little pharmacy. He knew Jesse would be capable of running his business in perfect order, and the young ladies did have a 'field day' with him as well, as they gossiped from the table near the store entrance, where they can clearly see Jesse from the hardware section.

Mr. Williams soon left the store, with Fabrizio and Rose, leaving Jack behind with his beautiful friend in the store, while Tomás was outside, whistling to some horses as he herded them to a pen. Somewhere, a group of cattle were heard lowing in a pen. Jack became even more nervous, as it was just the two of them in that store now, his heart was pounding more, and his mouth became dry. He couldn't help but notice, as Jesse held a pencil to his chin, looking up at the shelves, and putting in the inventories in the little pad. Jack soon noticed Jesse had unbuttoned his shirt even more, showing a hint of toned chest that gleamed with sweat, and had also revealed a small cross necklace that glistened to the light, hung by a long string. He bent down, and Jack saw the necklace fall out his shirt, then dangled and swung from Jesse's graceful, sweat-gleamed neck. A drop of sweat fell from the necklace as Jesse wrote something in the pad, using his thigh as he wrote. Jack looked on, then started to notice more details about Jesse; his face, especially his eyes, as he thought he looked almost Asian in appearance. He knew he must have gotten his beautiful features from his mother, who was nowhere to be seen.

He's so beautiful, Jack thought, as he watched the way Jesse looked down at the pad. He had a slight double chin, even though he was tall, gracefully slender and extremely fit, and had a graceful neck, and a youthful face. The way his soft hair swayed to his movements, then covering his eyes as he walked about. The way he pursed and bit his lips so that his dimples would show, the gracefulness as he ran his hand through his hair…Jack shook his head, trying to get the image out of his head. He knew Marion was a perfect match for Jesse, and knew later on, he would make an excellent father someday. Earlier Karl had gone back to the house, while Jesse was on his break.

"C-can I see w-what's in there?" Jack nervously asked, referring to the notepad.

"Sure," Jesse says, smiling as he flicked his head, making Jack even more nervous, and even felt himself blushing, as Jesse handed him the pad, then wiping himself from the sweat. He flipped through the pages, only to be greeted to an almost impossible to read handwriting, which was almost similar to his signature on his drawing, that gone down with the ship. Only the numbers could be legibly read, but everything else, was almost a scribble. Jesse gave a giggle.

"Sometimes, I couldn't read my own writing as well, especially if its been awhile." Jesse says, as Jack nervously handed him the pad, and was shaking. "And, no, its not because of my hair. My father writes like this, so I must have gotten a little from him." Jesse buttoned up his shirt, leaving his cross necklace on top of his shirt.

The sun had finally gone down, as Jesse locked the place up tight, and was the last to leave, as Tom started the car. Jesse jumped through the car's opening to the back seat, leaving Jack to ride in front, and finally, Tom took the friends home.

Unbeknownst to Jesse, a young woman stared intently at him, from the corner of the building. She continues to watch as Jesse got into the car, with another equally handsome man and the store's co-owner.

A/N The Native American parts of this chapter comes from inspiration of Tony Hillerman novels, as Jesse comes from these here parts.