(sorry I added a bit more to Chapter 4 after I posted it. It seemed to fit in better there.)

The Outlaw's Widow

Chapter 5: The Dilemma

The next afternoon Lucas rode into town. The day was overcast and cool; the ground still damp with puddles from last night's rain. He had a little time before he needed to meet with Miss Hunter about the broken window so he decided to stop by and bum a cup of coffee off Micah if he was around.

He found the Marshal at his desk going through a stack of wanted posters that had come in from the stage the previous day. He gave Lucas a friendly smile. "Howdy Lucas boy."

"Hi Micah." Lucas came around and sat on the edge of Micah's desk resting the rifle he always carried with him on his lap.

Micah yawned loudly and got up and stretched. "Coffee?"

"That's what I came in for." Micah smiled and handed him a tin cup, then refilled his own, trying to hold back another yawn.

"So why are you looking so tired about?" Lucas asked.

"Had a couple of busy nights lately and haven't got much sleep. Last night couple of cowhands over at Sweeny's decided to duke it out and broke a couple of mirrors. Sweeny was about ready to put some lead into them both before I showed up. Took me the better part of the night to straighten everybody out. Night before I was over at the Madera House."

"Oh, what happened?"

Micah rubbed his right arm which hung stiffly at his side, the result of a gunfight several years back. The cool weather was making his shoulder ache. "Near as I can figure, couple of men tried to break into the hotel safe," Micah said then went on to explain about how the salesman, Carl Browden, had tried to stop them and ended up getting bushwhacked for the effort.

"Anything taken?"

Micah shook his head. "Didn't have time, I suspect. The Judge was in a real uproar about it though."

Knowing Judge Hanoven, Lucas could only agree. "So do you think they'll try again?"

"Not likely, now that they know we're tipped to them. Still I told the Judge I would increase my rounds about the hotel for a while." Micah dug his pocket watch out. "As a matter of fact, it might not be such a bad idea to get up and stretch my legs for a spell. Care to join me?"

Lucas shook his head. "Maybe another time. I'm supposed to meet Miss Hunter after school to fix that broken window."

"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Micah chuckled. "Mark sure didn't seem cotton to that idea of you spending extra time with her."

"I don't see why not. Mark's used to seeing me help people out."

"Not the same. That's his teacher, and a pretty one at that."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing," Micah smiled. "But maybe the boy feels you're a little too interested?"

"That's ridiculous. I'm only trying to help the lady out. As a member of the town council…."

But Micah quickly put up his hand. "You don't need to convince me, my friend. 'Course Mark might feel a little strange at the whole prospect." Micah deliberately paused then tried to hide his smile behind his coffee cup. He pursed his lips together and tried to sound serious. "So, you plannin' on asking Miss Hunter to the barn dance?"

"So that's what this is about. Are you taking Hattie's side?" Lucas asked leaning towards his friend.

"Just a friendly inquiry."

"Well as a matter of fact I just might."

Micah looked up a little surprised.

"Fact of the matter is, though I would hate to admit it, Hattie might be right. It would be a good opportunity for Miss Hunter to meet everyone in town."

Micah nodded slowly. "And what does Mark think about this?"

"Mark? I haven't said anything to him. I haven't made up my mind yet."

"Mmm," was all Micah said.

"All right Micah, why don't you just say what's on your mind."

"I'm just sayin' Mark might feel a little odd you takin' an interest in someone else, especially if that someone else is his teacher. Remember that for quite a long time it's just been you and the boy."

"That didn't seem to stop him before. I remember less than a year after we settled here, the boy tried to marry me off." Indeed, Mark's matchmaking efforts had gotten Lucas in a heap of trouble that time when he tried to pair him up with a little gal half his age with several older and rather overprotective brothers.

"But that was a few years back when he was looking for a mother figure. He's older now and growing up fast."

"Don't I know it," Lucas sighed then told Micah about Mark wanting to know, rather insistently, what the word hussy meant.

Micah chuckled. "Where is tar nation did he hear that?" Lucas explained. Micah's face sobered momentarily then nodded. "Oh, them two."

Lucas' face narrowed. "Why what about them?"

Micah hesitated. He knew Lucas very well, especially when it came to the matters of the boy. Lucas was one very protective father himself and the one thing he disliked intensely is anyone messing with his son.

"What is it?"

Micah sighed. "We'll you'll probably hear about it soon enough." Micah quickly relayed the events. He could see Lucas' face close over and grip the rifle tightly. "I don't expect they'll be giving Mark anymore trouble, though. I already made it clear to them in no uncertain terms. Now you leave it be, hear?" Micah said sternly.

He could see Lucas' jaw clenching. "You make sure they do, Micah, or I will. Why are they here anyway?"

"Don't rightly know. But they're staying over at the Madera House, so I imagine I'll run into them at some point."

Once he and Micah finished their coffee Lucas headed over to Hattie's to pick up the pane of glass. Placing it in the back of the buckboard, he covered it with a piece of canvas so it wouldn't get chipped. It was then he spotted a familiar face coming out of the freight office. He walked along the boardwalk passing a well dressed gentlemen sitting on a bench nearby reading a newspaper.

"Well if it isn't Dave Roberts."

The young man turned and smiled in recognition. "Mr. McCain." The two men shook hands. Dave was several years younger than Lucas and had a ranch outside North Fork on the other side of town. Just last year he'd inherited the entire spread after his father had passed away. Lucas had helped the young man get the place fixed up. He'd even loaned Dave his seed bull to help him get started.

"I haven't seen you in quite a spell." Lucas said. He casually held his rifle at his side.

The younger man smiled. "Can you blame me?"

"Oh, that's right I heard you got yourself married. Congratulations."

"Thanks, Luke. Two months this week."

"So what brings you into town then?"

"I came to pick up a trunk for Julia. She had it shipped here all the way from St. Louis. So, how's Mark?"

"Oh, as busy as ever," Lucas replied. "Can't keep up with the boy half the time."

"You and Mark will have to come by the ranch and taste Julia's apple pie. It's the best in town. I'm trying to talk her into baking one for the dance this Saturday."

"Well speaking for Mark, I'm sure he'll be happy to oblige, though you might not have much left. That boy's going to eat me out of house and home one day."

The two men laughed and exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes until the freight officer came out to tell Dave the trunk was ready to be loaded.

"I better get going. Nice seeing you again Lucas. I'll be bringing Julia to the dance Saturday. Can't wait to show her off to everyone. Still can't believe she agreed to marry me and come way out here."

"Look forward to it Dave," Lucas said and waved goodbye. As Lucas walked away, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the stranger fold his paper, get up and disappear down the street. Lucas had the strangest feeling he'd been watching them.

Smyth found his partner over at Sweeney's seated at one of the card tables. As Smyth approached the table Sinclair looked up. Smyth jerked his head indicating he needed to talk. Finishing his hand, Sinclair met him outside the saloon a few minutes later.

"What's up?"

"I think we finally got lucky friend." Smyth relayed the conversation he overheard outside the freight depot between an overly tall rancher carrying a rather fancy looking rifle and another man named Roberts who just happened to have a new wife by the name of Julia from St. Louis

"Do you think it's her?"

"Sounds like it. Smart move for Julia to dodge us by marrying a two bit farmer and hiding out here. Only one way to find out though."

"What are we going to do?"

"First head back over to the freight office and see just where this Roberts ranch is."

As they walked Sinclair inquired of his partner, "You know that other guy talking to Roberts, the one you said was carrying a fancy rifle?"

"Yeah, what about him?" Smyth asked.

"Did you catch his name?"

Smyth thought a moment. "McCain I think it was."

Sinclair nodded. "I think he must be that brat's old man. You know the one that ran into me with the fish."

"So what of it?"

"I've been talking to some of the locals. Seems this McCain's got quite a reputation with that rifle. They even have a nickname for him. Call him The Rifleman. He and that Marshal are apparently good friends."

"No wonder the Marshal gave us that warning. He certainly didn't look like someone you'd want to oppose. Still, I don't see any problems."

"What if he gets suspicious?"

"What reason would he have? We're just a couple of businessmen, remember, nothing more."

"I still don't like it," Sinclair replied.

"You worry way too much, my friend," Smyth teased.

Sinclair just looked over at his partner sourly, tugging primly on his vest.

Mark was just finishing sweeping up the front porch of the school when his father pulled up in the buckboard. He waved to him. A few seconds later Miss Hunter emerged from the schoolhouse.

Lucas stepped down from the buckboard. "Good afternoon, Mr. McCain," she greeted.

Lucas tipped his hat smiling pleasantly, "Mame."

Mark hovered nearby gripping the broom. "Are you finished Mark?" Miss Hunter asked.

"Yes, Mame. I'll just put these things away in the shed." He hurried off.

"I really do appreciate this, Mr. McCain, but I hope I'm not keeping you from something important. Mark mentioned you had quite a lot of work to do out at your ranch."

"There's always something that needs to be done on a ranch, Mame. But it can wait. I brought the pane to fix the window." Mark returned. "Son, go grab my tool box out of the buckboard."

"All right," he replied and jumped into the back on the wagon.

"But be careful of…." Lucas didn't finish his sentence before Mark heard something crack under his boot. Mark froze and cringed. "The glass," Lucas sighed.

Mark lifted the burlap sack to see what remained of the window pane, his face squinting up. "I'm…I'm sorry Pa," he replied softly looking up at Lucas with large eyes.

Mark could see his father's mouth thin into a straight line. Finally Lucas replied, "It's all right, son. It's my fault. We'll just have to get another one from Hattie." Lucas then turned to the schoolteacher. "Looks like you'll have to wait another day to get the window fixed."

Miss Hunter was trying to supress a smile at the child's expression. "That's quit all right, Mr. McCain."

"Well then I suppose since I can't fix the window I might as well head over to your place and see what needs to be done. That is if you've finished up here."

"Oh, well, yes I am, thank you," she replied, "Um just let me collect my things and I'll be right with you."

A few minutes later Miss Hunter locked up the school and Lucas helped the her aboard while Mark grabbed his sorrel pony and tied the reins to the buckboard before climbing in back. As Lucas set the team in motion, Mark noticed how his father smiled at his teacher when a gust of wind nearly blew her bonnet off and she shyly laughed back. Mark's face turned into a slightly embarrassed frown.

The old Garrison house was just on the edge of town a short walk from the school. Immediately Lucas noticed a few shingles had blown loose. Miss Hunter showed him around the place and Lucas made a note of the needed repairs.

"I sure do appreciate this Mr. McCain," Miss Hunter replied. "When the roof started leaking last night I had a horrible image of running out of pans to catch it all."

Lucas laughed. "Well I guess I should deal with that problem first."

"I think I saw some extra shingles in the tool shed out back if that would help," the schoolteacher offered.

Lucas nodded and was escorted around back with Mark following curiously behind. Lucas, with Mark's help, spent the next few hours repairing the holes in Miss Hunter's roof. When they were finished, Miss Hunter offered them some tea.

"The rest of the roof looks to be in pretty good shape, but let me know if you have anymore leaks." Lucas wrote down a list of supplies she could order from the General Store.

"Thank you, Mr McCain," she said. "I can't believe how helpful everyone's been. Mrs. McPherson and a few of the ladies from the women's auxiliary came by yesterday with a basket of canned goods and fresh bread."

"Have you've found North Fork to your liking so far?"

"Oh yes. It's a charming little town, although I'm afraid I haven't had a whole lot of time to get to know everyone as yet."

"Well there's a social dance this Saturday," Lucas began.

"Um...Pa don't you think we ought to be heading home soon?" Mark interupted.

"In a minute Mark," Lucas replied.

"Yes, to raise books for the school. I thought it was a lovely idea. I'm looking forward to it."

Mark darted a look at his father. "But Pa, I still have to study for that history test you know."

"Mark your interupting," Lucas said sternly. "Besides, I've never known you to be anxious to study for a history test before."

"Well, you said yourself you pay good money every month for me to go to school."

"And so I did," Lucas replied. "Now go and pick up the tools and put them back in the wagon for me and I'll be ready to go in a few minutes." His tone breeched no further disobedience from his son.

"Yes sir," he replied and reluctantly went off to do as he was told.

Miss Hunter couldn't help but smile. "My, he sure is anxious to get back home."

"Yes well, he needs to learn when not to interupt," Lucas replied a little irritably. "Anyway, Miss Hunter, about the dance. As a member of the town council I would be more than happy to escort you, that is if no one else has claimed the privalege already?"

Lucas thought he saw the faintest blush on her face. "Oh...well that is very kind of you, but really I don't want to trouble you."

"No trouble at all mame. It will be my pleasure."

"Well then Mr. McCain, I accept."

"And it's Lucas."

She smiled. "Lucas then, and please call me Anna."

"Anna it is then," Lucas gave her a warm smile back and took a sip of his tea.

It was then, as Mark was loading the toolbox into the wagon, that his friend Matt walked by on the other side of the street with his older brother. He waved at Mark and nearly passed them by when he did a double take as he saw Lucas sitting on the porch smiling at Miss Hunter and sipping tea out of a fancy cup. Matt's eyes widened, and Mark felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment, groaning inwardly.

A few minutes later, his father joined him having said goodbye to his teacher. Mark sat in the wagon stiffly. Lucas looked at his son oddly. "Something a matter son?"

"Can we just go home now?" Mark asked averting his eyes. "I still have my chores to do Pa."

"Yes." Truth of the matter, Lucas did have a lot still to do at the ranch.

When they got back home, the two McCains were kept busy into the evening. By the time the supper dishes were done and Mark had finished his homework it was late. Mark headed for bed while Lucas as usual stayed up a little later reading a book in front of the fire. But Mark couldn't sleep. Instead he laid there thinking of his pa and his schoolteacher.